The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7355 p782
25 June 2005

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News summary

White paper calls for more devolved powers

Proposals to build on the devolution settlement and give more powers to the Welsh Assembly have been put forward in a White Paper published this week. “Better governance for Wales” (PDF 1MB) focuses on three issues:

· Giving the Assembly enhanced legislative powers

· Creating a new executive structure for the Assembly so that there is a formal separation between the executive and legislative functions

· Dealing with an anomaly in the electoral system so that losing candidates in Assembly constituency elections are unable to become Assembly members through the regional list

Secretary of State Peter Hain said: “Devolution has proved a success both for Wales and the United Kingdom. After the experience of six years of the Assembly in operation, and two full sets of elections, it is appropriate now to review and improve the working of the Assembly.

“This is not change for change’s sake, but to ensure that it continues to meet the people’s needs in Wales and remains accessible and accountable to them.”

The paper says the aim is to implement these proposals at the time of the next Assembly elections which will take place on 3 May 2007.