It was the calm before the storm in the Assembly this week.

But the opposition were in no mood to give Alun Michael an easy run-up to the no confidence vote he faces over European aid.

They were annoyed that the minutes of debate held last December over how the Queen's Speech would affect Wales were "an inaccurate reflection of events".

Although the Assembly has no power to make laws, it can offer its views on Labour's proposals at Westminster.

Plaid Cymru's Cynog Dafis complained that the Assembly had not, in fact, approved the Government's plans to change the right to trial by jury.

Lib Dem leader Mike German and his Conservative counterpart Nick Bourne had similar queries.

Mr Bourne said some of Labour's ideas alarmed his party, especially over the right to roam.

The First Secretary said the minutes had been written by Assembly officials, rather than the executive.

It was also an attempt to summarise the views expressed in the debate.

Many AMs, he said, would no doubt find some things in it with which they disagree, but he hoped it covered fairly all the issues raised.

There was much support for the idea of a single rail franchise for the whole of Wales, notably from Peter Law, the Assembly Secretary responsible for transport.

The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority explained its plans to revive the nation's trains to AMs on the day it emerged that three companies want to run an all-Wales service.

AMs expressed their horror after the conviction of Hyde GP Harold Shipman of the murder of 15 patients.

Plaid Cymru's Dr Dai Lloyd, a GP of 20 years experience, said Shipman had betrayed the whole medical profession.

He wanted tighter regulations on prescriptions of morphine.

Another doctor, Labour's Brian Gibbons, wanted a central scrutiny of the profession, and Tory health spokesman David Melding called for stricter rules on issuing death certificates.

Health Secretary Jane Hutt told members she would take on board their views, but the recommendations of the public inquiry into the Shipman affair could herald a new era in patient care.