Written question WQ85830

The Welsh Government believes in the principle of subsidiarity – that government responsibilities should be allocated to the most local level at which they can be performed efficiently and effectively.

The establishment of four regional Corporate Joint Committees in April 2021, with a general power to promote economic well-being as well as duties to undertake regional transport and land use planning, provides considerable flexibility for developing that principle further. They will support regional working across Wales and provide the foundation for future consideration of where responsibilities and powers best sit.

The devolution of powers and responsibilities from the Welsh Government to these new arrangements will be considered in discussion with local government, and we look forward to conversations with each region about their ambitions.

It is for local government to come forward with proposals to the relevant portfolio ministers, should they want additional functions to be devolved to them.

The OECD project we have commissioned on Regional Governance and Public Investment in Wales is supporting local authorities to work with each other at a regional level. They will be providing a self-assessment toolkit to identify gaps and helping the regions to prepare action plans.

The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales we have set up has a broad remit and has indicated its intent to engage with local government. Its online consultation includes a question on the balance between local and national government within Wales, as well as the relationship with the United Kingdom.