Political Accountability - Placed the passing of several forms of legislation and control over an annual budget of some £14 billion, affecting over 2.9 million people, in the hands of elected representatives directly accountable to the people of Wales. (Government of Wales Act 1998).

Open Government – Provided Wales with one of the most open legislatures in the world through the early publication of cabinet papers, open subject, regional and audit committees, statutory partnership councils and the use of modern information technology. (Government of Wales Act 1998). Held evidence-taking sessions on public interest issues such as: BSE, CJD and MMR vaccinations.

Welsh Fiscal Priorities - Set a number of Welsh fiscal priorities. In March 2005, a leaflet outlining the differences people across Wales could expect to see as a result of the Welsh Assembly Government's spending plans for the next three years was published. Your Government, Your Money! explains the Assembly Government's budget plans for the period April 2005 to March 2008. Changes people across Wales will see included: 8 planned new hospitals and major improvements in others, at least 56 major school building projects, 400 more doctors and 3,000 more nurses, ending prescription charges by 2007, free bus passes for disabled people and for people aged 60 and over, free swimming for children and older people providing free breakfasts in primary schools. (March 2005).

Making Welsh Law – Ensured, for the first time ever during 2001, that 35% of the Assembly 230 pieces of general subordinate legislation were either unique to Wales or reflected significant differences in drafting recognising Welsh circumstances.

A Clearer Voice for the Civil Service in Wales – Assembly officials defended the Welsh sheep sector by identifying the need for DNA testing of samples used on failed research on BSE in sheep. The DNA tests subsequently showed that the research by Defra had in fact been conducted on cow brain, rather than sheep brain material. In contrast, during the early years of the BSE crisis, Whitehall ignored Welsh Office advice concerning the Department of Health’s reassurances over food safety. (November 2001).

Local Government – Implemented a new approach to funding local government in Wales based on need, the clear principle that local spending choices must be paramount and that "ringfencing" budgets for specific services is not the way forward.

The Economy – Successfully pressed the case for Wales’ most deprived areas, over and above the population based Barnett formula, to receive a European Grants transfer of £421 million from the UK Treasury towards drawing down Objective One monies worth some £1.2 billion. By admitting the principle of additionality to Wales, the Treasury conceded for the first time that there should be a ‘needs based’ augmentation to the Barnett Block. It was announced in July 2004 that Wales would benefit from an extra £555 million from the Chancellor to support the delivery of structural funds programmes. (July 2004).

Equal Opportunities - Resulted in the people of Wales acquiring the right to challenge by judicial review any failure to comply with equality duty including the realm of public service provision. (Government of Wales Act 1998).

The Environment  – Provided Wales with the first government in the world to use ecological foot printing as an indicator of real progress in sustainable development. (April 2002).

Education - Established an independent review panel under the chairmanship of Professor Teresa Rees to consider and advise on how the Assembly should respond to new powers relating to tuition fees and student support, contained in the Higher Education Act 2004. (July 2004).

The Welsh Language - Held a wide-ranging review of Welsh Language policy through its all-party Culture Committee in an effort to define in greater detail the stated aim of creating a bilingual Wales and produced Iaith Pawb the Assembly Government’s National Action Plan for a Bilingual Wales. (November 2002).

Children – In early 2000, Sir Ronald Waterhouse published his report - Lost in Care - after a long inquiry into child abuse in children's homes in North Wales. He recommended that Wales had a Children's Commissioner to try and stop such things happening again. Secured an amendment to the Care Standards Bill establishing an Independent Children’s Commissioner for Wales. (2000)

Young People and Life Long Learning - Created a new Assembly Learning Grant for some 43,000 students in Higher and Further Education. Figures released in October 2004 showed that a total of 22,780 students applied for Assembly Learning Grants (ALGs) during the previous academic year 2003/04, this was 13 per cent higher than the number received in the ALG’s first year, 2002/03. The number of successful applications 20,590 (90 percent of applications) was 9 percent higher than the total awarded during academic year 2002/03. The largest increase in successful applications was for full time further education students, 5000 compared with 3,790 awarded during 2002/03.(October 2004).

Pensioners - Introduced free bus travel for some 600,000 pensioners and disabled people.

Health - Created a six-week free home care package for vulnerable people leaving hospital.

Local Environment - Initiated the investigation which hastened the closure of the Nantygwyddon landfill site in the Rhondda.

Agriculture - Created Farming Connect to help farming families adapt, improve and re-think their businesses. It was announced in October 2004 that more than £20m in grants had been committed to projects aimed at securing farm businesses in Wales through Farming Connect. This would generate a total investment in the infrastructure of the Welsh farming industry of more than £54m.

Culture and Sport - Provided free entry to nearly 1.1 million visitors to museums in Wales from April 2001.

International Profile - Allowed Wales a place in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which promotes democratic practices among its 54 member states.

Human Rights - Successfully lobbied for the early removal of asylum detainees from Cardiff Prison in November 2001 and August 2004.