Referendum FAQ’s
- What powers does the Assembly have following the yes vote?
The Assembly is able to legislate on any of the 20 subject areas listed in Schedule 7, subject to any exceptions listed. These cover the delivery of local public services – education and training, fire and rescue services, health services, highways and transport, housing, local government, social welfare, planning (except major energy infrastructure) and water supplies – agriculture, fisheries and forestry, culture, including the Welsh language and ancient monuments, economic development and the environment.
- Which areas remain non-devolved following the yes vote?
All the other areas previously non-devolved remain non-devolved. Parliament will continue to legislate in areas of national, UK wide importance. These include defence; foreign affairs; fiscal; economic and monetary policy (including revenue and customs, and tax); policing; criminal and civil justice; energy; social security; employment; post and telecommunications; driver and vehicle licensing and broadcasting.
- What if the Welsh Assembly Government wanted the Assembly to legislate in areas which would not be devolved following the yes vote?
If, in future, the Government and the Welsh Assembly Government agreed that further powers should be devolved to the Assembly, it would be open to them to bring forward an Order to do so.
- Will the yes vote result in an increase in the number of AMs in line with the recommendations of the Richard Commission?
The Government has no plans to change the size of the Assembly. More Assembly powers will not increase the range of activities carried out by the Assembly Government, and does not necessarily mean more proposed legislation coming forward to be scrutinised. Rather it means that proposed legislation could be based on a broader range of subjects.
- Will the yes vote mean increased funding for the Assembly?
No, the outcome of the referendum will have no impact on the funding available to the Welsh Assembly Government.
- Will the Government look at reforming the Barnett formula as a result of this referendum?
Our commitment on reviewing Barnett is clear: stabilisation of the public finances comes first. We recognise the concerns expressed about the system, but now is simply not the time to make wholesale changes to the system of devolution funding. It is also important to recognise that Barnett is a UK-wide issue, and therefore affects all the nations of the United Kingdom. We have not taken a final decision in terms of what ‘a process similar to the Calman Commission’ would look like.
- Will the Government consider devolving tax-varying and borrowing powers for the Assembly?
The Government is not ruling anything in or out at this stage.