In March this year the people of Wales are to be balloted as to whether they want more powers for the National Assembly of Wales. However, there appears to be a real lack of clarity amongst the general public as to what these extra powers are.

The powers of the Assembly are set out in the Government of Wales Act 2006. Under these provisions the Assembly has devolved responsibility for some 20 areas such as Education and Health.

At present if the Assembly wishes to develop new policies and create new measures within these 20 areas, it has to obtain permission from Westminster first in the form of a Legislative Competency Order or an Act of Parliament. This means that there can be long delays before the Assembly’s proposed changes can be implemented.

The referendum in March is asking the people of Wales if they wish the current situation to continue or whether they wish the Assembly to have powers under Part IV of the Government of Wales Act to exercise its devolved responsibilities directly without recourse to Westminster.

The latter option would give the National Assembly full devolved powers over the 20 areas of devolved responsibility so that matters affecting the people of Wales can be made directly in Cardiff rather than in London. This will streamline the work of the Assembly and eliminate the frequent delays in enacting the policies and measures the Assembly wishes to introduce.

 After all what’s the point in having an Assembly with evolved powers if it cannot exercise them?

Some opponents of further powers believe that increased powers will lead to the rise of nationalism and a slide towards independence l for  Wales independent of the UK.

A recent all wales poll revealed little support for separatism and the Government of Wales Act (2006) specifies the extent of its devolved responsibilities and this is not a matter for the Assembly to change without UK legislation.

If the Assembly is to function properly and reflect the views of the people of Wales in the way it determines its spending priorities then it makes sense for the Assembly to be given the powers to do this.

Importantly it will mean that the Assembly Government will be in a stronger position to protect the people of Wales from the worst of the cuts being applied by the present Con-Dem government by developing

fairer spending priorities than those being imposed for England by Westminster.