UCAC education union has responded positively to the recommendations of the Commission on Devolution in Wales (The Silk Commission) published today.
The union has given a particularly warm welcome to the recommendation that teachers’ pay and conditions should be devolved to Wales.
Elaine Edwards, UCAC’s General Secretary said “At a time when education policies in Wales and England are diverging at an increasing rate, there’s little point in preserving a joint system of pay and conditions. It’s a power that’s already devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we’re extremely pleased that the Commission has made an unambiguous recommendation on the matter.
“The Commission’s recommendations relating to Higher Education and the Research Councils are also positive – we agree that there needs to be a greater level of understanding, and greater degree of consideration given to Wales’s specific needs when policy in this area is being developed.
“We also welcome the recommendation that we move to a ‘reserved powers’ model of devolution. Once again, this is a model that is already working effectively in Scotland. The lack of clarity about the precise boundaries between the responsibilities of the Westminster and Welsh governments has been a stumbling block for far too long.
“This is an extremely positive report, full of recommendations that will lead to better governance for Wales. We very much look forward to seeing these recommendations implemented in the near future.”
