Welsh Government

Welsh Government
Government name	Welsh Government
Border	Wales
Date	1999
State	Wales
Leader title	First Minister
Appointed	Monarch (upon nomination by the Senedd)
Main organ	Welsh Cabinet
Ministries	9 ministerial departments

Welsh Government. The Welsh Government is the devolved executive for Wales, responsible for implementing laws and administering public services. It was established following the Government of Wales Act 1998 and is led by the First Minister of Wales, typically the leader of the largest party in the Senedd. The government's powers have expanded significantly since its inception, notably through the Government of Wales Act 2006 and the Wales Act 2017.

History

The creation of the Welsh Government followed the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum, which approved the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales. Initially, under the Government of Wales Act 1998, it operated as an executive committee of the Assembly with limited secondary legislative powers. The pivotal Government of Wales Act 2006 formally separated the executive and legislature, creating the Welsh Government as a distinct entity. Major milestones in its constitutional development include the Wales Act 2014, which granted tax-varying powers, and the Wales Act 2017, which moved Wales to a reserved powers model of devolution similar to that of Scotland. Key figures in its early development include first secretaries like Alun Michael and Rhodri Morgan.

Structure and powers

The Welsh Government operates under a parliamentary system where the First Minister of Wales is nominated by the Senedd and officially appointed by the Monarch. The First Minister appoints Welsh Ministers and Deputy Welsh Ministers to form the Welsh Cabinet. Its legislative competence is defined by the Government of Wales Act 2006 and subsequent statutes, covering areas such as health in Wales, education in Wales, and local government in Wales. The government derives its authority from the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020, which renamed the legislature and affirmed its law-making powers. Key advisory bodies include the Welsh Revenue Authority and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.

Ministers and departments

The government is composed of several ministerial departments, each headed by a Cabinet Secretary or Minister for.... Core departments include the Health and Social Services Group, the Education and Public Services Group, and the Economy, Treasury and Constitution Group. Supporting these are officials within the Welsh Government Civil Service, which is a distinct part of the Home Civil Service. The Office of the First Minister coordinates cross-government strategy. Other significant offices include the Counsel General for Wales, the government's chief legal adviser, and the Local Government and Housing Directorate.

Policy areas and responsibilities

The Welsh Government holds primary responsibility for a wide range of domestic policy areas. In health in Wales, it oversees NHS Wales and public health initiatives. Its education in Wales portfolio includes the curriculum, further education colleges, and oversight of universities like Cardiff University. Other major responsibilities include transport in Wales, encompassing rail services and the Welsh road network, agriculture in Wales, economic development in Wales, housing in Wales, and environmental policy in Wales, including initiatives like the Wales Coast Path. It also has powers over the Welsh language, enforced by Comisiynydd y Gymraeg.

Relationship with other governments

The Welsh Government's primary intergovernmental relationship is with the Government of the United Kingdom in Westminster, coordinated through mechanisms like the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC). It interacts with the UK Parliament on reserved matters such as defence and foreign policy. It also collaborates with the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on issues of mutual interest, such as British–Irish Council matters. Relations are formally outlined in the Wales Act 2017 and the intergovernmental agreement known as The Agreement on the European Union (Withdrawal) Act and the Common Frameworks. It represents Welsh interests in international forums, maintaining offices in locations like Brussels and Dublin.

Finance and budget

The Welsh Government's funding is derived primarily from a block grant from the HM Treasury, calculated via the Barnett formula. Since the Wales Act 2014, it has gained limited tax-raising powers, including over Land Transaction Tax and Landfill Disposals Tax, administered by the Welsh Revenue Authority. The annual budget is scrutinized and approved by the Senedd's Finance Committee. Major expenditure areas include NHS Wales, local government grants, and infrastructure projects like the South Wales Metro. Its fiscal framework is detailed in agreements with the UK Government, such as the Fiscal Framework for Wales.

Category:Government of Wales Category:Devolved governments in the United Kingdom