Wales devolution reforms unveiled

Thursday, 16 June 2005 12:00 AM

The Welsh Assembly could assume full legislative powers under proposals published by the Government.

The Wales Office has unveiled plans to streamline the legislative process for bills affecting Wales in its White Paper on Wales' Governance.

But the White Paper, which lays the foundations for a new Government of Wales Bill in the autumn, also makes provisions for a referendum on granting primary law-making powers to Wales.

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said the Government had no plans to hold such a referendum, but was proposing to legislate for one now "in order to avoid the necessity of a third Government of Wales Bill".

He added: "In my view, there would be no case for contemplating a referendum until the experience of the new streamlined process had bedded down in the next Assembly term between 2007 and 2011."

The White Paper, published on Wednesday, follows the Richard Commission's report in March 2004, which envisaged greater powers for the Assembly from 2011.

Under the Government's proposals, the process for streamlining legislation will be implemented by 2007.

It will mean that instead of fighting for space in the Queen's Speech, the Assembly will bid to implement a new policy or modify and existing law.

Rather than go through the normal legislative process at Westminster, this bid would be considered by a vote in both Houses, and if passed would give the Assmebly new powers in specified policy areas, to modify Acts of Parliament as they affect Wales.

Another proposal contained in the White Paper would ensure a clear separation between the Assembly's executive and legislative branches to clear up confusion over who is responsible for making decisions.

And the electoral process would also be changed so that losing candidates in Assembly constituency elections are unable to become Assembly members through the regional list under the Additional Member Voting system.

Welsh nationalists have described the proposals as a "major disappointment". Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said: "These proposals fall far short of the law-making powers recommended by the Richard Commission and favoured by the majority of the people of Wales according to opinion polls."

He added: "The fundamental issue is this; why should Wales have to wait for Westminster to give the go ahead when we should be able to decide for ourselves.

"There is mass public support, for example, for a ban on smoking in public places, and for a bank holiday on St David's day, but the proposals from the Government today mean we will continue to be unable to bring these policies forward unless Westminster gives the green light."

Welsh devolution came into effect in 1999, and the next set of elections to the Welsh Assembly are in 2007.

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