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Where next for devolution?

The second report of the Silk Commission, set up by the UK Government to look at further devolution to Wales, is published. After recommending tax and borrowing powers, the Commission's been looking at possible additional areas of responsibility.

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  1. Nick Powell

Silk's 10 year plan for Wales

The Commission on Welsh devolution has published its final proposals. It sets out all the powers it thinks should be transferred from Westminster to Cardiff Bay over the next 10 years. It says some responsibilities should be transferred straightaway, notably youth justice.

The Commission, chaired by former Assembly chief official Paul Silk, calls for legislation giving Wales all powers not specifically reserved to Westminster. This 'reserved powers' model is already used in Scotland, while Wales currently has 'conferred powers'. The powers Wales would gain include:

  • Most aspects of policing
  • Youth justice, followed by a feasibility study of prisons and probation
  • Any other parts of the justice system recommended in a review held by 2025
  • Energy generation up to 350MW, a major increase on the present 50MW
  • Water, including all supplies to England
  • Ports, rail, bus and taxi regulation
  • Speed and drink-drive limits
  • Teachers' pay
  • Any funding out of taxes for S4C, now mostly paid for from the television licence fee

The Commission calls for the Assembly to be expanded to effectively scrutinise a more powerful Welsh Government. It also wants a new system to resolve disagreements between Westminster and Cardiff Bay without involving the Supreme Court. These recommendations include:

  • A bigger Assembly, with more backbenchers to scrutinise ministers
  • An increase in the size of the Assembly's research staff
  • An intergovernmental committee of Welsh and UK ministers

Our Terms of Reference tasked us with coming up with recommendations that would enable the United Kingdom Parliament and National Assembly for Wales to better serve the people of Wales. We have consulted widely throughout our work and considered all the evidence presented to us. We are grateful to everyone who engaged with us throughout our work – the views we heard have been invaluable in helping us produce this evidence-based report which we believe will command a wide degree of support.

At a time when constitutional issues are high on the agenda in the United Kingdom, we have agreed recommendations that will provide a stable and well-founded devolution settlement fit for the future. It will give Wales a lasting settlement that allow political decisions to be made in a democratic and accountable manner. Through a phased ten-year programme of reform, it will create a stronger Welsh democracy and bring Wales more in line with the other devolved countries of the UK. We are therefore delighted to present our unanimously agreed report to the UK Government for implementation.

– Commission Chair Paul Silk

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