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  1. Adrian Masters

Plaid 'stitch-up' claim over devolution talks

Jonathan Edwards MP requested minutes of the devolution talks

A refusal to publish the minutes of cross-party talks on Welsh devolution is a 'Westminster stitch-up' according to a Plaid Cymru MP.

Jonathan Edwards made his comments after being refused access to the record of discussions held at the beginning of the year by the Welsh Secretary which are often referred to as the 'St. David's Day Agreement.'

However his attack has been criticised by the UK Government which says that Plaid Cymru had signed up to the consensus reached during the process.

The talks and the subsequent blueprint published by David Cameron and Nick Clegg have formed the basis of the UK Government's draft Wales Bill which will change the powers of the Welsh Government and the National Assembly.

Jonathan Edwards tabled a written question asking to see the minutes and has criticised the refusal of the Welsh Secretary to publish them:

There are gaping holes in the draft Wales Bill, ranging from the devolution of Network Rail functions and funding; devolution of policing; the appointment of a Welsh Crown Estates Commissioner; devolution of S4C; review of devolution of criminal justice.

The refusal of the Secretary of State to publish minutes of the meeting smacks of another back room Westminster stitch-up between the Tories and the Labour Party.

Plaid Cymru will be tabling amendments to the Bill to ensure that the people of Wales get the democracy and accountable government they deserve and we will continue to challenge the unionist parties to put their tribal politics to one side and act in the Welsh national interest in improving this crucial Bill.

– Jonathan Edwards MP, Plaid Cymru

This is the response from the Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb to Jonathan Edwards' Written Parliamentary Question:

I held a large number of meetings as part of the St David’s Day process. These included meetings with the parliamentary representatives of the four main political parties in Wales to identify which Silk Commission recommendations had political consensus to be taken forward. It was agreed that discussions at these meetings would remain confidential, and the Government has no plans to publish minutes.

– Written Answer by Stephen Crabb MP, Welsh Secretary

But a Wales Office source points out that Plaid Cymru took part in the St. David's Day process.

Plaid Cymru played a full part in the St. David's Day Agreement and signed up to the political consensus that underpinned it. They cannot now pretend to have no idea how that consensus was reached.

– Wales Office source