Senedd Watch - October 2016

• UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced a “Great Repeal Bill” would be introduced to repeal the European Communities Act 1973 and end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. She also confirmed Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty will be triggered by the end of March 2017, starting a two-year EU withdrawal process.
  

• UK Brexit Minister, David Davis MP, said no decision had been made on a replacement for EU structural funds, adding that the matter will be discussed with the Welsh Government to “design something appropriate to Wales.”
• On October 24^th, the leaders of the devolved nations met with the Prime Minister, where they were told they would have a “direct line” to the Brexit Minister and a formal role in developing a Brexit strategy for the UK. The First Minister told BBC Wales that tariff-free access to the single market for Welsh exports would be a “red line”.

• Plaid Cymru unveiled proposals for a National Infrastructure Commission, which would borrow £7.5billion over 10 years to invest in new capital projects. Adam Price AM (Plaid, Carms. E. & Dinefwr) said the Welsh Government will be impeded by a £500million cap on borrowing (which will come into effect from 2018). The creation of an infrastructure commission was part of a post-election Plaid-Labour agreement.
• On October 17^th, the Welsh Government launched their own consultation on a National Infrastructure Commission, which would be a expert advisory panel for major transport, energy and environmental projects. It wouldn't have borrowing powers or the ability to direct investment to new schools and hospitals.
• Finance & Local Government Secretary, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West), announced combined regional authorities would be established and the current 22 local authorities maintained under new plans for local government reform. Services that could be run on a regional basis include economic development, social care, education and strategic planning.
• The former chair of the Williams Commission said the proposals would be “tricky” because councils may have to give up some authority, also expressing his disappointment that little had changed from the status quo.
• A public inquiry into the proposed M4 Newport bypass was delayed until 2017 due to a new traffic projection formula being introduced by the UK Department of Transport. Economy & Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South), criticised the UK Government for only informing the Welsh Government of the changes three days before they were implemented. The Conservatives accused them of “misleading” the public, saying there had been months of engagement.
• The National Assembly's Constitutional & Legislative Affairs Committee report on the Wales Bill slammed it as potentially rolling-back devolved powers. Committee Chair, Huw Irranca-Davies AM (Lab, Ogmore) said, “We welcome some elements....But it increases red tape and complexity”.
• Cardiff University's Prof. Richard Wyn Jones launched a blistering attack on the Bill, describing it as a failure of the legislative process in London, saying the contributions of Labour MPs in particular were “pathetic” and that it's both “patronising and vindictive”. The First Minister also said the Welsh Government were minded not to give it consent in its current form.
• Counsel General, Mick Antoniw (Lab, Pontypridd), outlined the case for a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction. He said the Welsh Government had already set out what a Welsh jurisdiction would look like, adding that he wants, “the legal sector to engage with the Welsh Government as we work to deliver meaningful change".
• The Gorwel think tank unveiled cost-neutral proposals to increase in the size of the National Assembly to 70 AMs in light of proposals to reduce the number of Welsh MPs from 40 to 29. They suggest doing it by increasing the number of AMs elected on each of the regional lists from 4 to 6.
• Shelter Cymru revealed 914 households were evicted in 2015-16, this includes 500 children. The main reasons for evictions were rent arrears, while three quarters of those interviewed were still homeless 6 months after eviction. The Welsh Government said the Housing Act 2014 has prevented two thirds of households under threat of homelessness becoming homeless.
• Communities Secretary, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside), confirmed the flagship Communities First poverty reduction scheme will be phased out, replaced by a new all-Wales strategy. He told AMs, “I am not convinced that continuing to focus on 52 small areas is the most effective way to deliver”. The scheme's annual budget is £30million.
• Opposition parties criticised Labour and the Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor), for voting against a motion supporting an Autism Bill - despite it being a 2016 Lib Dem manifesto commitment. Llyr Gruffydd AM (Plaid, North Wales) said, “This is yet another example of hypocrisy from the Lib Dems - a party now renowned for....reneging on their promises.”
• Public Health & Social Services Minister, Rebecca Evans (Lab, Gower), told BBC Wales the “door was still open” for an Autism Bill, but the Social Services & Wellbeing Act 2014 – which has only been in force for 6 months - is supposed to provide improved services.
• Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM (Ind, Dwyfor Meirionnydd) left Plaid Cymru on October 15^th. He rejected calls by Plaid to trigger a by-election in his constituency. His decision was taken because Plaid were not working “constructively” with Labour and he would be able to “speak his mind”.
• A report suggested Labour's manifesto pledge to provide 30 hours of free childcare for 48 weeks a year could cost up to £200million more than expected if the scheme is over-subscribed. The Communities Secretary said, "The creation of a generous childcare offer for working parents will ….remove one of the major barriers to employment."
• The Welsh Government unveiled the draft Welsh budget on October 18^th. The NHS will receive an extra £240million while the local government budget will see its first overall rise for several years. There were, however, cuts to capital spending and a withdrawal of some schemes like youth concessionary travel.
• The budget included a £119million deal with Plaid Cymru, which will see extra spending on medical technology, mental health, the arts and the Welsh language. Adam Price AM said Plaid had secured, "tangible improvements to the lives of people in Wales", but the Conservatives criticised Plaid for “rowing in behind Labour and propping them up”.
• Environment & Rural Affairs Secretary, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham) announced a fresh bovine TB strategy where trapping and lethal injection of badgers found near the 60 worst-affected cattle herds would proceed. Farming unions welcomed the announcement, while Conservative rural affairs spokesperson, Paul Davies AM (Con, Preseli Pembs.), said it may be “too little, too late”.
• Neil McEvoy AM (Plaid, South Wales Central) called for a lobbyist register to “ensure there's a transparent culture in the Assembly.” Leader of the House, Jane Hutt (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan), said ministers didn't meet commercial lobbyists and rejected any idea of “cash for access”. The Assembly's Standards Committee have subsequently launched a new inquiry into lobbying.
• Commemorations to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster were held on and around October 21^st. A minute's silence observed at the moment of the landslide, which killed 144 people - most of whom were children. The First Minister said the disaster, “changed Wales forever”.
• Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (Plaid, Rhondda), told her party's annual conference in Llangollen that the UK would likely have to accept free movement to remain in the EU single market. She also described immigration debates as “toxic” and said the party were not seeking a coalition with Labour despite the budget deal.

Projects announced in October include: An extension of a mentoring scheme to encourage take-up of modern foreign languages in schools; a scheme to offer doctors £20,000 incentives to train as GPs in exchange for a year of service in Wales; an £18million neonatal intensive care unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd; improvements to security measures for AMs following the assassination of Jo Cox in June 2016 and a final go-ahead for a £350million Specialist and Critical Care hospital near Cwmbran.