More powers for Wales?

Plaid Cymru has made its demands for the transfer of powers from Westminster to Cardiff Bay, a week after the Welsh Government unveiled its ambitions. The party claims that devolving a wide range of powers should happend as soon as possible. Policing and criminal justice head the list.

They were top of Carwyn Jones' more gradual proposals as well. Plaid also wants natural resources and energy policy handed over, when the Welsh Government only asked for control of water and said nuclear power should be excluded from the devolution of energy. Plaid Cymru's other demands include:

• Broadcasting
• Railways
• The Food Standards Agency
• Electoral Arrangements
• JobCentre Plus
• The Crown Estate
• A separate civil service for Wales

Plaid Cymru agrees with the Welsh Government that Westminster's role should be limited to a list of specific powers, with everything else automatically devolved. It claims that the proposals it's submitting to the Silk Commission on the constitution are 'comprehensive, reasonable and realistic'.

The First Minister is calling for a wide range of new powers to be devolved to the Welsh Government.

Control over policing, and speed and drink and drive limits are some of the additional powers.

They've been listed in a Welsh Government submission to Westminster as ministers there decide on the future shape of devolution.

They also want more discussion between the two governments over who has the final say on large scale non-nuclear energy projects and a wide range of other functions. Our political reporter Owain Phillips has been looking at what's on the First Minister's shopping list.

Rachel Banner, leader of True Wales, the group that campaigned against further devolution of powers to Wales says: ''It's pretty clear that Welsh Ministers, one by one, are cutting every tie that binds us to the United Kingdom.''

There's been an unenthusiastic response to Carwyn Jones' demand for more powers for the Assembly from the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, the two parties that have long advocated that devolution should go further.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats' leader, Kirsty Williams said Labour should have acted on the recommendations of the Richard Commission, set up when her party was in coalition government with Labour. She said Welsh Labour had only found its voice once the party had lost power at Westminster.

There has been no response from Leanne Wood and her newly established Plaid Cymru leadership team but a party spokesperson issued a statement accusing the Welsh Government of delay and also questioning if Carwyn Jones had secured the backing of the Labour party for his demands.

The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has called for powers over areas like policing, tax and alcohol licensing to be devolved to Wales.

Carwyn Jones made a statement this morning saying "Decisions that affect Wales should only be taken in Wales."

Carwyn Jones says the Welsh Government wants a major increase in the areas where the Assembly can pass laws introduced without a referendum. He's told the Silk Commission on Devolution that the March 2011 referendum confirmed support for the Assembly having 'extensive legislative authority'.

The First Minister wants powers transferred from London over everything that would not be specifically reserved to the UK Government and Parliament, such as constitutional affairs, defence, foreign affairs, social security and macro-economic policy. Powers that would be devolved include:

• Taxes – A range of taxation powers in line with the recommendations of the Silk Commission.
• Police -Control of Policing, community safety and crime prevention
• Road safety -Powers over speed and drink driving limits.
• Licensing of alcohol and late night entertainment..

• Vulnerable adults and children - taking children into care, fostering and adoption.
• Water – In all parts of Wales, including where Welsh Water is not the supplier.
• Ports - Power over the economic development of Welsh ports.
• Administrative Justice and the administration of elections.

• Large scale energy generation (except nuclear power) and related energy infrastructure.
• The youth justice system.
• The appointment of the Welsh member of the BBC Trust and all members of the S4C Authority
• Powers for dealing with civil emergencies

Carwyn Jones says the powers should be transferred by 2021. In the longer term, he says criminal justice should be devolved, including courts and prisons. He wants a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction and an early start on preparations to end the single England and Wales jurisdiction.