Wales (Cymru) forms part of the United Kingdom. It was founded as a country in 1536 through the Act of Union, which linked it to England. Wales has traditionally been governed directly from the UK national government in London. The issue of self-government for Wales became part of the political agenda in 1966 when the nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, won its first seat in the House of Commons. Proponents of Welsh devolution have also sought to promote the Welsh language and a series of direct action campaigns since the 1960s have triggered its revival. Teaching in Welsh is encouraged in schools, road signs are bilingual, and a Welsh-language television channel was established in 1982. It is estimated that around 19% of the 2.9m. Welsh population speak the language.
From the 1970s the UK Labour Party supported Welsh devolution, but the Welsh Labour Party was divided on the issue. In a referendum held on 1 March 1979, Welsh voters rejected devolution (yes 20.3%; turn-out 58.8%). Following the election of the Labour Party to government on 1 May 1997, Welsh voters were again asked about devolution.
In a referendum held on 18 September 1997 the proposal was narrowly supported by 50.3% of voters (turn-out 50.1 %). The first elections to a new Welsh Assembly were held in May 1999 and the Assembly was inaugurated in the Welsh capital, Cardiff. The powers of the Welsh Assembly are limited to administering the Welsh budget and passing secondary legislation in such areas as agriculture, education, health and local government. The 60-seat Assembly is elected by a system of proportional representation every four years. The Assembly elects a First Minister; since the most recent election, held on 1 May 2003, this has been Rhodri Morgan, who leads a single party Labour executive. The Welsh Assembly elected in 2003 was the first ever legislature in which 50% of the deputies are women. Five of Morgan’s eight ministers are also women.
The Welsh economy was traditionally dominated by coal and steel production. Since the 1970s, however, the coal mining industry has experienced a significant decline, and most deep mines have been closed. Steel production has increased, both in terms of total output and of Wales’ share of the United Kingdom’s total steel output. Service industries have been developed and Wales has succeeded in attracting foreign direct investment. The rate of unemployment in Wales is higher than the UK average—6.1% 2001—and wages are 20% lower than average (2002).
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