Carwyn Jones demands changes to Wales Bill

Carwyn Jones and Alun Cairns last met during Brexit talks in Downing Street on Monday Credit: PA

First Minister Carwyn Jones has told Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns that he still requires substantial changes to the Wales Bill before he could recommend it to the Assembly. In a letter to the Secretary of State, Mr Jones says that what he sees as a "clear rowback" of some of the Assembly's existing powers outweighs the new responsibilities that the Bill would give to Cardiff Bay.

The First Minister argues that because the Bill affects what's already been devolved, the Assembly's agreement is needed before it can be passed. It's a convention that the UK government could ignore but it would risk poisoning relations with the Welsh government if it did so.

Carwyn Jones highlights his major concerns in his letter. He says that there is still "much to be resolved and agreed" about the Welsh Government's tax-raising powers and how its funding from the Treasury will be calculated in future. He also wants the UK Government to compromise in its opposition to Wales becoming a separate legal jurisdiction to England. The First Minister also asks for the Assembly to be given further powers that the Bill currently denies it:

  • Teachers' pay and conditions

  • Powers over employment legislation

  • Alcohol licensing, sale and supply

  • The levy paid by developers to local communities

  • More compulsory purchase powers

  • Powers over water and local bye-laws without needing UK ministers' permission to act.

Opposition peers will be pressing many of the Welsh Government's concerns in the House of Lords, which will start detailed consideration of the Bill on Monday. In his letter to Alun Cairns, Carwyn Jones says how the UK Government responds will "heavily influence" whether he will ask the Assembly to approve or oppose the legislation.

The debate in the Lords is also expected to raise one area where an influential group of Labour peers thinks the Bill goes too far. Two former Secretaries of State for Wales, Lord Hain and Lord Murphy, plus the former Labour Leader Lord Kinnock, don't want income tax raising powers devolved without a referendum.

But many of the House of Lords' numerous constitutional experts agree with most of the First Minister's criticisms. A report out today from the Lords' Constitution Committee sets out their misgivings about "the lack of clarity over the demarcation of powers between the UK Parliament and Welsh Assembly. They agree with Carwyn Jones that in some areas the Bill is likely to actually result in a return of power from the Welsh Assembly to Westminster.

The UK Government has reacted to the report by claiming that the Bill will produce "a stronger, clearer fairer devolution settlement for Wales". But it also acknowledges that there's still scope to change the Bill.