National Assembly for Wales 1999

National Assembly for Wales 1999
Name	National Assembly for Wales 1999
Legislature	First Assembly
Foundation	1999
Disbanded	2003
House type	Unicameral
Members	60
Meeting place	Tŷ Hywel, Cardiff Bay

National Assembly for Wales 1999 was the inaugural devolved legislature established following the Welsh devolution referendum, 1997, formed under the provisions of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and convened in Cardiff in May 1999. The Assembly brought together representatives elected from Welsh constituencies and regional lists, creating a new institutional link between Wales and the United Kingdom, and interacting with institutions such as the UK Parliament and the European Union. Its formation followed political developments involving parties including Welsh Labour, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservative Party, and personalities from across Welsh public life.

Background and Establishment

The creation of the first Assembly was rooted in debates after the 1997 United Kingdom general election and the Labour Party manifesto commitments under Tony Blair and the New Labour project. The Welsh devolution referendum, 1997 produced the narrow mandate that led to enactment of the Government of Wales Act 1998 by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, establishing an assembly with limited powers distinct from the Scottish Parliament created by the Scotland Act 1998. Key Welsh figures and institutions that shaped the debate included Gwynfor Evans, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Alun Michael, Ron Davies, Rhodri Morgan, and civic organisations such as the Wales TUC, Institute of Welsh Affairs, and the Welsh Language Board.

Election and Composition

Elections for the Assembly used an Additional Member System combining First-past-the-post constituencies and regional party lists, linking constituencies like Cardiff Central, Vale of Glamorgan, Clwyd West, Gower, and Ceredigion with regions including South Wales Central, North Wales, Mid and West Wales, South Wales East, and South Wales West. The inaugural 1999 election returned 60 members representing parties such as Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservative Party, and Welsh Liberal Democrats, alongside smaller groupings and independents. Prominent elected members included Rhodri Morgan, Ieuan Wyn Jones, Carwyn Jones, Leanne Wood, Nick Bourne, and Kirsty Williams, who later featured in debates on devolved competencies transferred from the Secretary of State for Wales.

Key Offices and Leadership

Leadership offices established included the First Secretary of Wales (later First Minister of Wales), the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales (Llywydd), and the Cabinet (Executive Committee) drawn from Assembly members. The early period saw figures such as Alun Michael and Rhodri Morgan contesting executive authority, with interplays involving the Labour Party (UK), Plaid Cymru, and opposition leaders like Nick Bourne and Ieuan Wyn Jones. Administrative support structures included Welsh Government civil servants, the Assembly Commission (later Senedd Commission), and parliamentary officers linking to bodies like Tŷ Hywel, Senedd building stakeholders, and committees patterned after models from the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament.

Legislative Activities and Committees

The Assembly established committee structures including committees for Health and Social Services, Education and Lifelong Learning, Economic Development, Environment, Planning and Transport, and Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, aligning with devolved areas allocated under the Government of Wales Act 1998. It passed measures and secondary legislation on matters affecting institutions such as the National Health Service in Wales, Gwent Police, Dyfed-Powys Police, Welsh local authorities like Cardiff Council and Swansea Council, and public bodies including the Assembly Learning Grants and Loans Unit and the Arts Council of Wales. Committees led inquiries drawing evidence from organisations such as the British Medical Association, Universities Wales, Wales Audit Office, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission predecessor bodies.

Major Policies and Decisions (1999–2003)

Between 1999 and 2003 the Assembly implemented policies affecting the National Health Service in Wales, education systems involving institutions like Aberystwyth University, Cardiff University, and the Open University in Wales, transport initiatives linking to Transport for Wales precursors, and economic programmes engaging bodies such as Welsh Development Agency (WDA) and Business in the Community. The Assembly endorsed measures on the Welsh language promoting work with the Welsh Language Board and adopted approaches to public services distinct from policies in England, often contrasting with practices in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Notable decisions touched on public finance arrangements interacting with the Barnett formula, local government reorganisations, and welfare-related implementations involving Jobcentre Plus interfaces.

Political Impact and Public Reception

The Assembly's establishment altered political alignments within Wales, influencing party strategies for General election, 2001 and subsequent contests, and shaping careers of politicians such as Rhodri Morgan, Ieuan Wyn Jones, and Carwyn Jones. Public reception was mixed, with opinion polling from organisations like YouGov and academic analysis from Cardiff University and the Institute of Welsh Politics indicating debates over effectiveness, legitimacy, and the scope of devolved powers. Media coverage from outlets including the Western Mail, BBC Wales, ITV Wales, and cultural responses from institutions such as the National Library of Wales reflected ongoing contestation about national identity, administrative competence, and relations with the United Kingdom government and European institutions.

Category:1999 in Wales Category:Politics of Wales Category:Devolution in the United Kingdom