8.2 The call for a Welsh Assembly
The call for a Welsh Assembly was stronger than ever and the referendum in Wales had confirmed the need for a separate law-making body in Wales. However, it would seem that the law-making powers for the Assembly in Wales were being curtailed. Take a look at the following quote, which has been taken directly from the Constitution Unit, School of Public Policy, which produced a paper commenting on the White Paper ‘A Voice for Wales’:
The Welsh Assembly will have no law-making power, but will take over the executive responsibilities currently exercised by the Secretary of State for Wales (health, education, local government, transport, agriculture, industry and training etc.). In these policy areas the Assembly will operate within a legislative framework set by Westminster. Within this framework it will have power to make rules and regulations by secondary legislation.
This statement summed up the position of the Welsh Assembly as a law-making body. It was clear that the Welsh Assembly had a voice but the script was still being written by the Westminster Parliament: all legislation was still being created by the Westminster Parliament and then discussed by the Assembly Members in the Senedd (Senate).