Draft Wales Bill
The Welsh Secretary publishes plans for a new devolution settlement for Wales.
The Welsh Secretary publishes plans for a new devolution settlement for Wales.
Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood has claimed that the draft Wales Bill is a feeble response to call for more devolution and shows that the Welsh Government is "failing to force proper powers for Wales from Whitehall's clutches".
The draft Wales Bill as it stands is an insult to our country. It only implements a fraction of the issues already agreed by all parties years ago through the Silk Commission report. Effectively, the Bill as it stands, enshrines Wales’ status as a second class nation in the UK. Throughout this process, Plaid Cymru has sought consensus on issues that all parties have signalled agreement on previously. We’ve worked constructively and have been prepared to meet others half way in order to do so. Sadly, the UK Government is unwilling to facilitated that sort of outcome and the Labour Welsh Government have proven that they are not taken seriously at UK level.
A group of MPs and AMs will meet today to scrutinise the UK Government's proposals on further devolution for Wales.
The UK Government is to publish its Wales Bill which sets out changes to the powers of the Welsh Government and the National Assembly