The Assembly will have powers to make "Assembly Orders", these are the equivalent of the statutory instruments made currently by ministers. These orders are secondary legislation - that is Parliament creates laws that form a framework which the orders flesh out.
Thus the Assembly will be able to reorganise the Tourist Board, change examination systems, create a unified transport policy for Wales etc.
In addition the Assembly will have the right to be consulted on a wide range of issues.
The Secretary of State for Wales will be required to submit details of any planned legislative programme for Wales to the Assembly for consultation.
The Assembly will have a representative at the United Kingdom's office in Brussels, thus giving the Assembly access to all discussion papers etc produced by the EU that would otherwise only be scene by the member Governments.
An Assembly representative will also have the right to attend meetings of the European Council of Ministers as an observer when matters within its jurisdiction are being discussed. The government has also stated that it will draw up a Concordat (see section on relationship to other bodies) to govern the attendance of a representative of the Assembly, and to permit the Assembly representative to act as the UK representative on the Council of Ministers on specially designated occasions.
Disputes
In the event of a dispute over the exercise of its powers the courts have the right to determine whether the assembly has acted within its abilities. Final appeal resting with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
© Lyn David Thomas 1998
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