Transcript

NARRATOR:

So, Wales voted ‘Yes’ on the referendum on how the assembly makes laws.

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But what does that actually mean? And what happens next? Well, for a start, it doesn’t mean that you will suddenly see lots and lots of new laws all coming at once. In fact, before the Assembly can begin making laws under these new arrangements, you will need to decide who gets to sit in the Senate chamber and to use these powers when Wales goes to the polls again on the 5th of May in the Assembly election.

After that, the assembly will no longer have to ask permission from the UK parliament to pass the laws affecting our schools, hospitals, and other matters in the 20 subject areas devolved to Wales. This will reduce the delay between taking decisions and putting them into effect and should make the 60 assembly members who sit at the Senedd more accountable to you.

The terms we use to describe new laws will also change. The assembly will be making laws in the same way as the Westminster Parliament, Scottish Parliament, and the Northern Ireland assembly. So proposed laws won’t be called proposed measures anymore, but will become bills. And when they become law, they won’t be called measures but will become acts.

So there we are then. Changes which will make a real difference to the way decisions that directly affect you are made. You can get involved with these decisions either by contacting your local assembly members, using the Assembly petition system, or contributing to the inquiries the Assembly carries out. This year, the people of Wales have three opportunities to vote. To find out more, visit vote2011.org.