This 2013 paper investigated the experiences of Members of the Welsh Assembly elected for the first time in 2011. The research was conducted as part of the Hansard Society's comparative 'A Year in the Life' study of new legislators. According to the paper, new AMs felt that the Assembly was not as effective as it could be, nor as distinct as it should be.
In 2011 the National Assembly for Wales commissioned the Hansard Society to extend to Cardiff our 'A Year in the Life' study of new Westminster MPs, in order to provide the Assembly with independent research about the experiences of new Assembly Members in their first year, especially regarding their attitudes to the orientation and induction provided.
The research in turn informed the provision of professional development support during the 2011-2016 Assembly term, and the curation of the induction programme for new AMs after the 2016 election.
Research into the 2011 intake was especially pertinent because that year saw the turnover of over 30% of Assembly Members, the largest since the Assembly came into existence in 1999.
And the 2011-2016 term also opened with the Assembly having already undergone considerable change in its powers and structures, even in its relatively short life, but with a live debate underway both inside and outside the institution about the need for further reform, in which the views of AMs would be crucial in shaping any future changes.
To conduct the 'A Year in the Life' research in Cardiff, from summer 2011 the Hansard Society monitored the role and work of the new AMs, through surveys, interviews and personal observation, supplemented by discussions with Assembly staff.
The research found that, overall, new AMs were more satisfied with the aspects of their role to do with constituency work than with their role as legislators in the Assembly. Perhaps reflecting the lack of time and space to step back and think strategically about their role and work, AMs had few concrete suggestions for reform. However, they did have a sense that the Assembly was not as effective as it could be, and not as distinct as it should be, given the aspirations at the time of devolution that Cardiff should be different from Westminster. The report suggested that the problems facing AMs were as much cultural as procedural, and that political space was needed for an inclusive discussion transcending party lines and focusing on the challenges AMs share in common.
Introduction
The new AMs: their backgrounds and the road to Cardiff Bay
Arriving at the Senedd
The role and work of a new Assembly Member
The workings of the Assembly
One year on
Methodology
The UK Spending Review outlines how Government funds will be allocated over several years. Unlike the Budget, which raises revenue, the Review decides how it is spent. But how is it approved? What role does Parliament play if it doesn’t vote on the Review itself? This blog explores how the Spending Review works, how it differs from the Budget, and how Parliament holds the Government to account through the Estimates process.
On Friday 13 June, the House of Commons will once again debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Specifically, it will hold a second day of Report Stage, during which the whole House will debate and vote on amendments. This briefing explains the structure of Report Stage, what happened on the first day of Report Stage, how amendments are selected and grouped, on which amendments a decision can still be taken, and the likely sequence of events this Friday, including whether a final vote will take place.
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, will deliver a statement on the Spending Review. MPs will resume Report Stage of the assisted dying bill and debate key legislation on football governance, mental health, and planning and infrastructure. Peers and MPs are expected to resolve their standoff over AI and copyright in the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The Commons Defence Committee will hear from the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review, while a Lords Committee will examine the Chagos Archipelago sovereignty issue. The Hansard Society’s Director will give evidence to the Modernisation Committee about access to the House of Commons and its procedures.
In this episode, we explore why ministers keep bypassing Parliament to make major announcements to the media — and whether returning to the Despatch Box might help clarify their message. We unpack the Lords' uphill battle to protect creators’ rights in the Data Use and Access Bill, challenge claims that the Assisted Dying Bill lacks scrutiny, and examine early findings from a Speaker’s Conference on improving security for MPs, as threats and intimidation against politicians continue to rise. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.
Our evidence on treaty scrutiny has been published by the House of Lords International Agreements Committee. Our submission outlines the problems with the existing framework for treaty scrutiny and why legislative and cultural change are needed to improve Parliament's scrutiny role. Our evidence joins calls for a parliamentary consent vote for the most significant agreements, a stronger role for Parliament in shaping negotiating mandates and monitoring progress, and a sifting committee tasked with determining which agreements warrant the greatest scrutiny.
