Executive power is exercised by the UK government, with Wales’ own devolved government having the power to make legislation in certain areas.

Government of Wales Act (1998)
The Government of Wales Act 1998 created the National Assembly for Wales, which on it’s formation did not have primary legislation. It did however have secondary powers, meaning that they had limited abilities to amend primary UK laws in Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government was set up as part of the Assembly and was the executive body of the National Assembly, consisting of the First Minister and the Cabinet. Executive functions were passed from the UK government through the National Assembly to Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government.

Government of Wales Act (2006)
The Government of Wales Act (2006) increased the powers of the devolved government and changed the relationship between the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Assembly for Wales.

The new Act enabled the formal separation of the Assembly and the Government. The Welsh Assembly Government is now responsibly for making decisions and implementing policies, and the National Assembly for scrutinising these decisions and policies and approving budgets.

The 2006 Act also gave the devolved government the power to initiate primary legislation in 20 areas including education and training, social welfare, health, housing and Welsh language. These measures must however be approved by the UK government.

Current Welsh Assembly Government
The current government is the ‘One Wales’ coalition between the Welsh Labour Party and Plaid Cymru (‘The party of Wales’). The coalition was negotiated after Labour were the dominant party in the last election, but did not have the majority needed a Labour only government. The current First Minister is Rhodri Morgan (Labour) who is opening the WorldForum 2008, and the Deputy First Minister is Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid)