Students visit Senedd to discuss devolution with Lord Elis-Thomas

Students from the School of Law and Politics' innovative module 'Devolution in Practice' recently visited the Senedd in Cardiff Bay for a special seminar session.

As part of the event, the students took part in a seminar with Lord Elis-Thomas AM. As the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly in the period 1999-2011, Lord Elis-Thomas chaired the weekly First Minister's Question session and now participates as a backbench Assembly Member. He also participated in Prime Minister's Questions as an MP bewteen 1974 and 1992.

Following the seminar with Lord Elis-Thomas, students attended First Minister's Questions, which serves as the highlight of the Assembly's week. This is the full plenary session during which opposition party leaders and backbench Assembly Members are able to question the First Minister.

Dr Einion Dafydd, the module convenor, interviewed Lord Elis-Thomas and students posed questions on a range of issues including the broader purpose of First Minister's Questions in the Senedd and Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, the functioning of the National Assembly, and the future of devolution.

'Devolution in Practice: Welsh Law & Politics Work Placement' is an optional module available to Law and Politics students in their third year.