The Change Management Award Shortlist

The Enabling Better Legislation Team, Welsh Government

On 03 March 2011, the people of Wales voted ‘Yes’ in a Referendum on greater law-making powers for the National Assembly. The Assembly is now able to legislate for Wales in relation to devolved subjects, without first seeking permission from the UK Parliament; a significant development for Welsh devolution. Furthermore, following the election on 5 May 2011, a new Welsh Cabinet took office and the legislative programme has just been announced.

The Enabling Better Legislation Programme’s vision was to ‘enable the Welsh Government to become the Government that most efficiently, effectively and accurately produces legislation of the highest quality which supports the delivery of policy aims’.

To achieve this, a change programme was developed, underpinned by LEAN methodologies, an emphasis on engagement and supported by a very small team. Focused on increasing the organisation’s capacity and moving the effective delivery of legislation into ‘business as usual’, they developed greatly simplified processes, a standardised legislation framework for primary and secondary legislation embedded in the wider policy process, an interactive online planning tool, cutting edge legislation-drafting software and standardised workflows, with IT support tools in readiness for future improvement.

This programme of work was delivered at pace, one year earlier than anticipated, and significantly under budget, allocating just 40 per cent of the predicted spend. Savings delivered by the legislation software alone are estimated to be £90,000 per annum or £450,000 over the course of the next Assembly.