The Welsh Referendum

There will be a referendum held in Wales a week tomorrow (3rd March 2011). In recent years there has been increasing use of referenda on "Constitutional issues" within the UK. The setting up of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly was preceded by a referendum in each country. There have also been referenda in parts of England on proposals for enhanced regional government. (London voted Yes [1998], all the others voted No [2004]). Referenda have been more frequently used in Northern Ireland.

Wales has itself had two referenda on devolution - both asked whether the Welsh people wanted a National Assembly to be set up - in 1979 (NO); and in 1997 (YES). The current referendum is about whether the Assembly should be able to to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas which it currently has some powers.
For more information on the Welsh referendum visit the (politically neutral) website of the Electoral Commission - accessible here.

There will be a national UK referendum on 5th May 2011, on adopting the Alternative Vote, in place of the current voting system (which is often described as the "first past the post system"). It is only the second referendum held across the UK. The first was in 1975, over continued membership of the then EEC (now European Union). The question was -  '"Do you think the UK should stay in the European Community (Common Market)?".
67.2 percent voted Yes and 32.8 percent voted No.

Other "Constitutional changes" have been adopted without a referendum - such as transfer of further powers to the European Union and (Royal Assent to the Act was given on February 16th), the reduction in the size of the House of Commons (from 650 to 600).

Rules for Referenda

The Coalition has announced that there will be a referendum on changing to the Alternative Vote method for elections (in place of the current 'First Past the Post'). Future Washminster articles will consider both systems and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

The law governing the holding and conduct of a referendum is to be found in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). A summary and explanation of the main provisions can be found in a House of Commons Library Standard Note available here.

The rules deal with the timing of the referendum (there is a minimum time between the legislation authorising a specific referendum getting the Royal Assent and the actual referendum - to ensure an adequate campaigning period); donations and expenditure.

Last week Baroness Quin asked a written question - "To ask Her Majesty's Government what use of referendums they propose for the British political system."

The answer given was -

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The coalition's programme for government includes proposals for future referendums and the introduction of a requirement for future referendums to be held in certain specified circumstances.

We will bring forward legislation providing for a referendum on the alternative vote system for future elections to the House of Commons.

Local people will be given the power to hold local referendums on any local issues to instigate change for the better in their local areas.

To further our aim of increasing democratic and parliamentary control, scrutiny and accountability over EU decision-making, any proposed future treaty that transfers competences or areas of power will be subject to a referendum. In addition, the use of any major ratchet clause which amounted to the transfer of an area of power to the EU will also be subject to a referendum. However, we have agreed that there should be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers from the UK to the European Union over the course of this Parliament.

The Government will set out further details of how they intend to take forward these commitments in due course.

There are also plans for a referendum in Wales on the powers of the National Assembly of Wales