Wales Office

A raft of new legislation from the Government will help families and small businesses in Wales face the challenges of the global economic downturn, said Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy today (Wednesday, 3 December).

Speaking following the Queen’s Speech, Mr Murphy said: “The new legislative programme launched today reflects the Government’s continuing determination to deliver greater economic stability and social fairness for people across Wales and the rest of the UK.

“This programme builds on measures announced in the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report last week to help better equip people meet the economic challenges we are facing as a result of the global economic downturn. We are bringing forward legislation such as the Banking Bill, to prevent and deal with banks getting into difficulties and improve protection for customers, and the Saving Gateways and Accounts Bill, which will support families and encourage those on lower incomes to save.

Mr Murphy said: “The new legislative programme also demonstrates our commitment to ensuring fairness in our society. It promotes fair rules to tackle crime and disorder and strengthen our borders; a fair say for all to give people greater control over the services they use; and fair chances so that people can fully realise their potential.

“The Equality Bill will promote fairness and equality of opportunity, tackle disadvantage and discrimination and modernise and strengthen the law to make it fit for the challenges that our society faces today and in the future.”

He added: “The Welfare Reform Bill will build upon our previous reforms so that nobody is written off on long-term benefits. We are proposing measures to help people with drug problems and a lack of skills to get back into work.  The Bill will also provide greater choice and control for disabled people over the resources spent on them.

“We are working with the Welsh Assembly Government to seek their support to implement plans to improve skills training and drug rehabilitation in the benefits system. I believe that it is important that people in Wales have the same rights and responsibilities as those across the rest of the UK.”

Two Bills featuring in the UK Government’s fourth session legislative programme - Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill and the Marine and Coastal Access Bill - will include framework powers for Wales, which will give the Welsh Assembly Government maximum discretion in bringing legislative proposals before the National Assembly for Wales.

Mr Murphy added: “The UK Government is continuing to work with the Welsh Assembly Government to extend the legislative competence of the National Assembly, whether through framework provisions or Legislative Competence Orders. The process is bringing real results for Wales, allowing the Welsh Assembly Government to make and implement policy decisions tailored to the needs and aspirations of the Welsh people.

“The Wales Office will continue to work hard with Welsh Members to deliver new powers to Wales, whilst continuing to represent and safeguard Welsh interests in non-devolved matters here at Westminster.”

Notes to Editors

Bills with framework powers: Marine and Coastal Access Bill

The Bill will improve and simplify arrangements for managing marine development and protecting the marine environment and bio-diversity, including a new planning and licensing system for the marine area and a new system of marine conservation zones, and will provide greater recreational access to the coast.

Framework powers: Framework powers to enable the National Assembly to legislate in relation to coastal access in Wales.

Other Welsh provisions: Provisions establishing Welsh Ministers as the marine planning authority for the inshore and offshore regions adjacent to Wales.

Provisions for the creation of a Welsh Fisheries Zone.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill

The Bill will create greater opportunities for community and individual empowerment, reform local and regional governance arrangements to promote economic regeneration and continue the Government’s programme of housing reform.

Framework power: Framework Powers for the National Assembly of Wales to legislate for governance arrangements and review and scrutiny committees in county and county borough councils in Wales.

Bills with Welsh provisions

Business Rates Supplements

The Bill will promote long-term economic growth and productivity of those areas that levy a supplement, by permitting investment in projects that support economic growth, and which would not otherwise proceed.

Child Poverty

The Bill will support the Government’s commitment to set targets to eradicate child poverty by 2020. This will mean tackling the underlying causes of poverty rather then just treating the symptoms.

Coroners and Justice

The Bill delivers a more effective, transparent and responsive justice system and coroner service for victims, witnesses, bereaved families and the wider public.

Children, Skills and Learning

The Bill aims to reform education, training and apprenticeships for young people and adults, and to provide new powers to strengthen children’s trusts, improve standards in schools and increase confidence in qualifications.

Equality Bill

The Bill will aim to promote fairness and equality of opportunity; tackle disadvantage and discrimination; and to modernise and strengthen the law to make it fit for the challenges that our society faces today and in the future.

Health

The Bill will improve the quality of NHS care, the performance of NHS services and public health.

Policing and Crime

The Bill increase the effectiveness and public accountability of policing, continue to address crime and disorder and improve security planning at UK airports.

Welfare Reform

The Bill will reform the welfare and benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work, provide greater choice and control for disabled people, and encourage parental responsibility by introducing a requirement for births to be registered jointly by both parents.