The Independent Commission on Assembly Powers

In October 2000 the Partnership Agreement, which led to this Assembly Government, committed us to establishing before the end of this Assembly’s first term, an independent Commission into the powers and electoral arrangements of the National Assembly in order to ensure that it is able to operate in the best interests of the people of Wales.

I am pleased to announce today that I have invited Lord Richard of Ammanford to chair the Commission and that he has accepted this invitation.

Ivor Richard was born and brought up in Ammanford and went to school in Llanelli. He was called to the Bar in 1955. He has since been a Member of the House of Commons, a Government Minister, the UK Permanent Representative at the United Nations, a Commissioner of the European Economic Community, Chair of the Rhodesia Conference in 1976, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords between 1992 and 1997, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords between 1997 and 1998.

Lord Richard is an eminent lawyer and parliamentarian with experience of government in many parts of the world. He will bring to this Commission both independence of mind and the ability to lead a team that can evaluate all the issues arising from the first full term of this Assembly’s operations.

The broad purpose of the Commission is defined in the Partnership Agreement. I will now want to discuss with Lord Richard and others, included the party leaders here, the terms of reference and mode of operation of the Commission.

As regards the appointment of the other members of the Commission, there will be consultations with the political parties represented in the Assembly on membership and expect that 4 members of the Commission will result from such consultations. I intend that 4 or 5 members of the Commission will be appointed through advertisement under Nolan-Neill rules.

I have agreed with Lord Richard that the Commission will be expected to begin its work in the summer of this year when the appointment process is complete and that it will report in the autumn of 2003.