[A-List] UK state: Wales awakes

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

More back Welsh self-government

Peter Hetherington, regional affairs editor
Wednesday December 18, 2002
The Guardian

Support for self-government in Wales has risen since devolution was approved
by a wafer-thin majority, giving weight to calls for extra powers to be
transferred from Westminster, according to new research.

In detailed studies on public attitudes since the creation of an Edinburgh
parliament and a Cardiff assembly almost four years ago, the electoral
commission says that while the record of the devolved administrations has
fallen below expectations, particularly in Scotland, they are still rated
higher than Westminster.

Two reports published yesterday, based on opinion surveys and focus groups
in both nations, find that trust in the bodies to act in the best interests
of Scotland and Wales is "notably higher" than confidence in the UK
parliament.

But levels of knowledge about the 60-member national assembly for Wales
still remain low, with a perception among the disaffected that it is "not a
particularly important political forum".

That will increase fears that voter turnout will fall at the next elections
in five months' time. At the first devolution elections only 59% of voters
in Scotland, and 46% in Wales, went to the polls.

The commission says its survey data suggest that backing for devolution has
increased since 1997, with support for direct rule from London falling from
40% to 23% in five years. Moreover, it finds "increasing support" for the
transfer of more powers to Wales, with the proportion of the electorate in
favour of a full-blown Welsh parliament - as opposed to the current
non-legislative assembly - doubling to 39% in five years.

Last week the assembly's leader, Rhodri Morgan, further distanced himself
from Tony Blair and extolled the virtue of "clear red water" between Wales
and Westminster. A commission is currently examining the case for stronger
powers going to Cardiff. But it will not report until after assembly
elections next May.

In Scotland, where the 129-member parliament has considerably more powers,
another commission survey shows that the legislature has suffered from poor
publicity. Just as the Welsh assembly has had three first secretaries in
four years, the Scottish parliament has had three first ministers.

Nevertheless, the research says that Scots "continue to attach relatively
high importance to the parliament". The study again indicates strong support
for extra powers.

While Scotland's parliament oversees most domestic services and frames
legislation, Westminster is still responsible for wider economic issues,
income tax collection, social security and foreign affairs.