'No rowing back' on powers urge leaders

Andrew RT Davies, Kirsty Williams and Leanne Wood appear before the committee

Opposition leaders say there should be no 'rowing back' of devolution as a result of UK Government plans to enhance the powers of the National Assembly and Welsh Government.

The leaders of the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and Welsh Liberal Democrats have been giving evidence to MPs from the Welsh Affairs Select Committee at a special session held in Cardiff Bay.

It's part of the committee's scrutiny of the draft Wales Bill which would oversee a change in the way the Assembly is set up and give Welsh ministers more decision-making power in areas such as transport and energy.

But there's concern that other parts of the bill will actually have the effect of reducing the powers of the Welsh Government.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said that 'it would be highly regrettable' if there were 'any rowing back on territory we understood to be devolved.'

But he said that wasn't the intention of the bill which he said could now be altered to meet concerns. He urged fellow politicians 'to grab this opportunity to use this legislation to enhance the responsibilities of this institution.'

Kirsty Williams, the Welsh Lib Dem leader, agreed that there's an opportunity to enhance the Assembly but said 'this draft does not do it.'

She said 'elements are to be welcomed' but that she was concerned that the proposals were 'not workable.'

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood described the plans as 'one step forward three steps back' and warned that politicians were in danger of missing a great opportunity.

Later the committee heard from Sir Paul Silk who chaired an independent commission into the future of devolution.

He told the MPs that the timetable to consider the bill was too short. He said 'because this bill in an important constitutional bill I would say, take time, do it properly. Do it right.'

The MPs also took evidence from the First Minister who said his offer still stands to delay the bill in order to improve it.

The Wales Office insists that there'll be no delay to the timetable and it has welcomed the views being aired today. A spokesperson said: