The government published the draft Wales Bill, for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Bill would: enable the Welsh Assembly to legislate on devolved taxation and provide for a referendum in Wales on whether an element of income tax should be devolved; allow the Assembly to set a Welsh rate of income tax; extend, and create new, borrowing powers; extend Assembly terms to five years; and amend rules governing candidates in Assembly elections and Welsh Assembly members.
Source: Draft Wales Bill, Cm 8773, Wales Office, TSO
Links: Draft Bill | Wales Office press release | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A government report responded to the recommendations made by the Silk Commission. The report said that, of the Commission's 33 recommendations, 31 were for the United Kingdom government to consider and 30 were accepted in full or in part. It said: that landfill tax, stamp duty land tax, and business rates in Wales would be fully devolved; that the Assembly would be able to hold a referendum on whether some income tax responsibilities should be devolved; that the Welsh government would be able to create new taxes with the United Kingdom government's agreement; and that the Welsh government would be given new powers, such as a cash reserve and limited borrowing powers. The Commission was due to report further in 2014 on whether the powers of the Assembly would now need modification.
Source: Empowerment and Responsibility: Devolving financial powers to Wales, HM Treasury
Links: Report | Silk Commission report | HMT press release | Welsh government press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the report of the Commission on the Consequences of Devolution for the House of Commons (the McKay Commission).
Source: Iain McLean, 'Report of the Commission on the Consequences of Devolution for the House of Commons', Political Quarterly, Volume 84 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Oct
The Welsh Government published its annual report for 2012-13.
Source: Programme for Government: Annual Report June 2013, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2013-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs said that devolution to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland was being carried out in a 'piecemeal' fashion and without any overarching vision about the future of the United Kingdom, in a way that risked leaving the union fragmented and disorganized. There was growing unhappiness in England about the failure of successive governments to consider the impact of devolution on England's needs.
Source: Do We Need a Constitutional Convention for the UK?, Fourth Report (Session 2012-13), HC 371, House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Additional written evidence | LGA press release | SNP press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Apr
The coalition government published a paper setting out the benefits of devolution to Scotland in its existing form, and the legal and practical implications of full independence.
Source: Devolution and the Implications of Scottish Independence, Cm 8554, Scotland Office, TSO
Links: Paper | Hansard | BBC report
Date: 2013-Feb
A think-tank report said that the mismatch between the financial framework of devolution and the constitutional powers and political accountability of devolved governments had reached a point where it was no longer sustainable. It recommended a package of devolved taxes, including personal income tax and an assigned share of VAT, to balance the need to manage devolved budgets, relate funding to devolved services, and avoid adverse fiscal outcomes. It also proposed institutional and administrative changes, and identified areas for further research.
Source: Alan Trench, Funding Devo More: Fiscal options for strengthening the union, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report | Public Finance report
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined the impact of devolution on social welfare for older people, and on the associated administration of age equality. Although divergent practice between devolved areas might be seen as unjust, the autonomy to determine local priorities had fostered progressive practices that 'went beyond the prescriptions of the central state'.
Source: Paul Chaney, 'Equality and territorial (in-)justice? Exploring the impact of devolution on social welfare for older people in the UK', Critical Social Policy, Volume 33 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan