You are in the company of Roger Warren Evans
EQUALITY should be top of the agenda, for the incoming
Labour Government of Wales. So should the other socialist
values of democracy and community. For while there can be
no escaping the primacy of "the economy", it will take more than a
decade to raise the growth rate of the Welsh economy, even with
the most generous Brussels grant aid. The political fate of the first
Labour Administration in Wales should not be allowed to turn
upon the attainment of unrealistic economic goals. And in any
event, socialism is for life, not just for Christmas. Anyone can be a
socialist in good times. The real test comes in adversity.
The case for equalising opportunities in education is one of
socialist principle. Labour in Wales must do more to counter
local economic, cultural and social disadvantage, more to meet
educational special needs. More imaginative use must be made
of third sector resources, of which Labour has traditionally been wary, if not suspicious. Labour must also be prepared to counter
the reservations of the teaching unions, as new resources are
their children enjoy a Welsh education. It should be good
to be young, in Wales.
For the old, pension provision remains a matter for
Westminster, not for the province. But within Wales, Labour
should as a matter of socialist principle give to all the assurance
that in old age they will enjoy the support of the community in all
other ways open to the Assembly, in NHS administration, in
residential care, in homecare, in transport assistance and other subsidies, in consumer protection, in third sector services.
It should be good to grow old, in Wales.
Unitary Councils How will Wales respond to Westminster's
reform programme, for local government? Labour will carry
a special responsibility to find the right solution, for
Wales. The Westminster Government has published proposals for
the modernisation of all local authorities, including the twenty-two
unitary authorities of Wales. The broad strategy is to draw a
clear differentiation between "frontbench" councillors (who would be
arrangements) and "backbench" councillors, who would be removed .
from the executive line and encouraged to concentrate on
communal work. It is common ground that reform is essential,
although there has been no enthusiasm in Wales for the
Government's specific proposals. Labour in Wales, while
acknowledging the need for salaried, executive "lead councillors",
and the delegation of increased powers to them should contend for the retention of collegiate decision-making, and the direct
participation of all elected councillors in the key executive
decisions, including decisions upon the scope of delegation.
While the need for far greater executive delegation to
"professional" full-time councillors is unarguable,
including executive mayors where appropriate, the elimination of
collegiate decision making would seriously weaken the democratic
content of local government in Wales, and should be not be pressed.