6/6/2007

In a foretaste of political fisticuffs to come, opposition parties today attacked Welsh Labour's legislation programme for the coming year, saying that although Labour was in a minority there had been no proper consultation about the proposals being put forward today.

The new programme targets child poverty, housing, health, education, the environment and the Welsh language.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "It is no accident that the proposals focus on the bread-and-butter issues.

"Our object must surely be not to create more law, but better law for Wales, and to apply our energies to bring about improvement in those aspects of daily life which directly impact on the daily lives of our fellow citizens.

"Whether such a progressive policy programme can be translated into action is a matter of political will and political skill. As far as this administration is concerned, I make it clear that such a political will exists and will be demonstrated in the way we go about the business of Government."

Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones is demanding a full debate on the government's law making programme.

The Leader of the Opposition said:

"A statement is not the way to set out a legislative programme for any Assembly or Senedd.

"Rhodri Morgan has outlined a comprehensive programme, which should have been allowed a full debate. The minority Labour Assembly Government is currently conducting negotiations by loudhailer through the press rather than working in partnership for the best governance for all of Wales."

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly Nick Bourne AM said:

"While there are parts of this legislative programme we clearly welcome, it is staggering that given Labour's minority position there has been no proper consultation about the proposals being put forward today.

"Rhodri Morgan promised a listening government and said that regardless of how people voted Labour will reach out to people. This is the language but there is precious little evidence of this in reality. There has been no consultation with any of the opposition parties about this legislative programme.

"There is clearly a need to address important issues such as special educational needs, affordable housing and the environment.

"Welsh Conservatives support moves to strengthen legislation in those areas outlined by the First Minister today. We will clearly want to study them in detail.

"However, with these policy proposals Rhodri Morgan has shown that he has not fully grasped the reality of the third Assembly term and is intent on governing for the Labour Party, not for the whole of Wales."

Nine substantial pieces of legislation are in the programme, six of which will be drafted under a new mechanism contained in the Government of Wales Act 2006 enabling the Assembly to initiate the acquisition of legislative power from the UK Parliament in certain areas.

Once powers are acquired through these new Legislative Competence Orders (LCO), they will have been devolved to the Assembly in perpetuity, and will enable the passing of Welsh laws called Assembly Measures.

The six LCOs will focus on:

Tackling child poverty and assisting vulnerable children. The LCO will include placing a duty on all public bodies to demonstrate their commitment to tackling child poverty.

Environmental protection and waste management, to link long-standing public concern over litter and other environmental matters with sustainable waste management.

Gaining enhanced legislative powers in relation to additional learning needs to enable a substantial restructuring of the Statementing system in special education.

Seeking powers to legislate in the field of charges for home care and other non-residential social services.

Affordable housing.

The Welsh language.

In addition, the First Minister set out three proposed Assembly Measures using existing powers already devolved which would:

Give greater rights to patients through an NHS Redress Measure. This will simplify ways that the public can seek redress from the NHS if things go wrong, establishing new rights, new processes and new outcomes for patients.

Reform the 14-19 curriculum, producing greater learning opportunities and diversity to prepare young people for their working lives.

Deal with school transport, to include integrated systems, the creation of a green public transport system and the expansion of the Safer Routes to Schools scheme.

The First Minister said: "I have outlined a substantial programme of work which will test to the full not merely the capacity of the Government to bring forward watertight draft legislation but all of this Assembly in undertaking the new scrutiny role which law-making requires.

"I am sure that all Assembly Members will wish to play a constructive part in these debates and in helping to create the flow of legislative competence transferred from Westminster to Wales, which the proper discharge of our devolved responsibilities requires."

The LCOs on tackling child poverty, improved waste management and additional powers for special education, along with the measures to give patients greater powers and improve education transport will be introduced before the Assembly breaks for its summer recess. The remainder will be introduced in the autumn.

The First Minister said that intended LCOs in the fields of affordable housing and the Welsh language could beneficially be enhanced to take into account ideas advanced by the Liberal Democrats during his discussions with them.

"As the head of a listening government, I have written to the leader of the Liberal Democrats asking him to nominate a spokesperson from his group to work with the relevant Ministers on these issues," said Mr Morgan. "By placing these LCOs in the autumn part of our programme, a minimum of three months will be available for these discussions to come to fruition. Once that has happened, the relevant LCOs will be laid before the Assembly.

"I look forward to working with all those who share this administration's commitment to a progressive consensus, rooted in the values of social and economic justice and a forward-looking, confident Wales," said the First Minister.