Senedd Watch - March 2011

Here's the first of what will become a monthly round up of the major goings on in the Welsh Assembly.

• The Welsh electorate delivered a decisive "yes" vote in the March 3rd referendum on primary law making powers, by 63.5% to 36.5%. Turnout was poor, but respectable at just 35.2%. Monmouthshire was the only local authority to return a "no", and even then by less than 400 votes.
  
• As a result of the yes vote, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg raised the possiblity of future tax- varying powers for Wales, but has ruled out Barnett formula reforms due to the economic climate.
  
• The LCO for organ donation has been withdrawn. Since the yes vote, there was no longer any need for it. Health Minister Edwina Hart (Lab, Gower) believes legislation should be passed in the next Assembly term.
  
• Assembly Goverment statistics released show that almost all non-urgent cancer patients in Wales started treatment within one month of diagnosis, and 93% of urgent cancer patients started treatment (after referral to hospital) within 2 months.
  
• Rural Affairs minister Elin Jones (Plaid, Ceredigion) relaid the controversial Bovine TB control order ("badger cull") before the Assembly, extending it's scope to include camelids, deer and goats. The order was subsequently passed by the Assembly.
  
• The Independent Renumeration Board comfirmed that AM's pay will be frozen for four years.
  
• First Minister Carwyn Jones (Lab, Bridgend) sent a letter of condolence to the Japanese ambassador after the Sendai earthquake.
  
• Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant (Lab, Delyn) announces that Anglesey County Borough Council is to be run by commissioners as a result of ongoing problems in the authority.
  
• The National Assembly election in 2015 has been postponed one year to 2016 due to a clash with the UK General Election as a result of a 5-year fixed-term parliament.
  
• An Assembly Communities and Culture Committee report suggests that the Welsh Government should set up a fund to bring empty local properties back into use.
  
• Home care and non-residential social services in Wales will now have a maximum charge of £50 per week from April following the passing of the Social Care Charges measure by the Assembly and Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas (Lab, Neath).
• NHS statistics have shown that dental care in Wales has improved since the 1970's. The Adult Dental Health Survey shows the proportion of adults with no natural teeth has fallen from 37% in 1978 to 10% in 2009. 22% of those surveyed said their choice of treatment was influenced by costs. 91% of adults were able to make and attend a dental appointment.
• Ann Jones AM (Lab, Vale of Clwyd) received the Bernadette Hartley Memorial Award (for promoting fire safety through sprinklers) at the House of Lords for her Member-introduced Domestic Fire Safety Measure (awaiting Royal Assent) which will require new homes in Wales to be fitted with automatic sprinkler systems.
• Projects announced in March include:
  
  1. The first phase of a duel-carriageway upgrade to the east of Newport
  2. A new north-south train service via Wrexham
  3. Extra trains between Carmarthen and Fishguard
  4. The devolution of rail management to Wales by Network Rail
  5. A relaunch and upgrade of the TrawsCambria long-distance bus service
  6. The A40 Llanddewi Velfrey-Penblewin bypass
  7. New schools and colleges in Dinefwr (Carmarthenshire), Merthyr Tydfil and Ynysawdre (Bridgend County)
  8. A technology graduate entrapreneurship scheme
  9. A new campus for Swansea University at Crymlyn Burrows and the launch of a new business district in Cardiff city centre.