For immediate release
28 July 2006
Julie Morgan, MP for Cardiff North, today welcomed Royal Assent for the Government of Wales Bill.
Last Tuesday, the Bill cleared its final hurdle in its passage towards becoming an Act of Parliament. The Government of Wales Act confers greater powers on the Welsh Assembly, such as the provision of legislative powers, and marks the first time that Wales has made its own law since the days of Hywel Dda in the fourteenth century.
Julie said: "The passing of the Government of Wales Bill is hugely important for the future of Wales. After the elections in May 2007, the Assembly will have enhanced legislative powers and will be better equipped to make decisions to serve the people of Wales."
The Act:
- creates a formal legal separation between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government, clarifying the respective roles of the legislature and the executive;
- makes new provision for the appointment of Welsh Ministers, with the First Minister nominated by the Assembly but appointed by the Queen (who also gives her approval to the First Minister's choice of other Ministers);
- enables the Assembly to acquire enhanced legislative powers for matters approved by Parliament, with full legislative powers waiting on the statute book to be implemented if approved by any future referendum; and
- ends the anomaly which allowed failed constituency candidates to still become Assembly Members via their parties' regional lists. From May 2007, each candidate standing for election to the Assembly must choose to stand either as a constituency representative or on the regional list.
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