Issue 155

Waterfront Debate: Against The National Assembly for Wales

08th May 2007

It's been eight years since the National Assembly for Wales was formed, and not a day goes by that I really think about it being there. It was a giant leap from Westminster. But, that giant leap was, and always will be restricted.

Moreover, its 8 year long existence has been an expensive one, especially when the benefits have been few and far between.

I'm not going claim that the assembly shouldn't exist - a local level government that knows the country can create specific, focused initiatives that benefit us all. I'm also not going to say that total devolution from the UK is the way to go - in taking too much power away from Westminster we might find ourselves in a position where important issues are mishandled. The Assembly hasn't been used to its full potential.

During 8 years, it's wasted a lot of money, had plenty of bad press and sat idly in Cardiff Bay waiting to prove its point.

When the Assembly met for the first time back in May 1999, it was embarrassingly homeless. Ron Davies, then Welsh Secretary announced that the voice for Wales would have a 'state of the art' home in Cardiff Bay - designed by world famous architect Lord Richard Rogers, costing over £10 million. But inaugural meetings of the assembly would have to take place in a tacky old office block called Crickhowell House. Sixty seven million pounds later and the 'state of the art' home for the assembly finally opened.

According to the Forum of Private Businesses, the majority of this money was spent frivolously when it really could have gone to better use. There are plenty of other Welsh towns and cities crying out for modernisation and development. £16,000 on a reception desk?

I'm sure the teachers in Cardiff suffering from a mass closure of primary and secondary schools, or failing Welsh hospitals and poor pensioners will be happy to know that at least their local government building looks nice. What a waste of money! Horrifyingly, which this government holds power are in spending money - deciding how much to pump into schools, hospitals, transport, sport, the environment and the purchase of modern art. It's not surprising that our country doesn't seem to be benefiting much financially.

There's little else the Assembly can do as they're not allowed to create laws.

Many people believe this should change, that the Assembly should have more power. A survey conducted by the BBC concluded that out of 100 people interviewed across Wales, over 50% wanted the assembly to have more power and even independence.

It's a dilemma because further devolution, could have dangerous repercussions. Other than finding ourselves in hard times financially, I personally don't think the assembly would know what to do with the power.

Welsh Nationalists would claim it's the only way to kick some life into the assembly - "Independence! Heightened rivalry with the English!" But it's simply not logical - Wales as a country needs to be part of the UK in order to sustain its standard of life.

Let's stop spending money on furniture and paintings and trying to look like a professional government, let's put the blunders behind us and start thinking about what's best for the future of Wales.

Nia Probert