06 NEWS
gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY NOVEMBER 09 2009
Hain: 'Devolution is the way forward for Welsh governance' Ayushman Jamwal Reporter
Rt. Hon Peter Hain MP and Secretary of State for Wales gave a speech on the benefits of devolution at Cardiff’s School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies last week. Mr. Hain sought to highlight how Wales is benefiting from devolution, after the 2006 Government of Wales Act ushered in political change initiating a faster incremental devolution of law making powers from Westminster to the Welsh Assembly Government. Powers are now being devolved to the Assembly through Legislative Competence Orders (LCO). Schedule 5 of the act contains ‘Fields’ which include ‘Matters’ on which the Assembly can pass legislative measures. Each passed LCO adds new ‘matter’, allowing the Assembly to pass legislation across Wales, much like the way an act of Parliament operates across the UK. Mr. Hain stated that since the inception of the new system, legislative powers over fields as diverse as health, education, local government and transport have been passed to the Assembly, allowing Welsh ministers to effectively exercise democratic law-making.
Measures such as the NHS Redress Measure, which attempts to provide patients with fairer access to compensation when health services fail. Alongside this, the Learning and Skills Measure, which attempts to alter the curriculum to provide a wider choice of academic and vocational study for 14 to 19 year olds, have been passed to improve the quality of life in Wales. “This is excellent progress after barely two years of operating the new system”, said Peter Hain. He further stressed the importance of devolution within a UK framework, creating a balance between empowering the Assembly and aiming for strategic interests at a UK level. Mr Hain was critical of a referendum on full law making powers - a desire of many Welsh politicians suggesting that it was totally impractical. He believes that the Assembly must channel new powers into good law making for many more years in order to be confident of a successful referendum. However, un-devolved sectors such as energy are not able to enjoy the benefits of quick local governance. When questioned about the matter after the speech, Mr. Hain replied that those concerned must be patient. He emphasised that the detractors must realize that unlike a previous system of struggling legislations at
Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain, advocating devolution Westminster, the new system is gradually providing the Assembly with powers to “help build a more demo-
cratic, prosperous, stronger and fairer Wales”. This, of course, is the aim of Welsh officials across the political
Pseudo 'students' sneak in Immigration officers see rise in non-students forging university documents to enter the UK Rachel Henson Reporter The UK student visa system has been criticised by Heathrow Airport immigration officers who have revealed that distinguishing counterfeit visas from legitimate ones has become incredibly difficult. One officer, who wished to remain anonymous, has also claimed that staff at the airport “can’t cope” with queues at the border, which at certain times hold up to 1,000 people. The officer’s colleagues, who believe some institutions are issuing fake qualifications to enable nonstudents who have had their visa applications rejected in the past to fulfil entry requirements, have also raised concerns. Students coming to the United
Kingdom from countries outside the European Economic Area must request a visa letter from the academic institution and obtain their student visa before entering the UK. Applications are individually considered on a points-based system which covers areas such as the student’s ability, age, financial situation and experience. Applications may only be made to pre-approved academic institutions. In order to qualify as a ‘Tier 4’ approved institution, the education provider must undergo a public review and an inspection by an appropriate body, such as Wales’ ‘Estyn’. Over 2,000 institutions are currently able to provide courses to international students. Jeremy Oppenheim, responsible for managing the
points-based system, has responded to allegations that the system is heavily flawed by insisting that “only those colleges and schools who take responsibility for their students will be licensed to bring in foreign students.”
The UK Border Agency has stated that it remains confident that immigration officers are able to check that visas meet immigration rules on arrival to the UK.
Fraudulent visas are becoming almost impossible to spot
spectrum.
Cardiff named Wales' first 'healthy' city Emma McFarnon News Editor Cardiff has become the first Welsh city to be given the World Health Organization (WHO) Healthy Cities status, joining only seven other cities in the United Kingdom. Achievement of the status provides an opportunity for a range of agencies in the city to improve the health and well being of local people. It is also considered to be an important step in ensuring that Cardiff continues to develop as one of the best places to live in the country. The Council and NHS have recognised that good health is a vital priority, and together they identified the Healthy Cities approach as the ideal way to create a healthier Cardiff. Cardiff Council Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Well Being, Councillor John Dixon, said: “Joining the Healthy Cities Network isn't recognition that everyone in Cardiff is now healthy - it's a promise that physical, mental and emotional health is a priority for all of us."