This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35685623
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Wales Bill needs significant changes, Stephen Crabb says | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has said he will make "significant changes" to his plans for further devolution after MPs called for a re-think. | |
It follows claims that the draft Wales Bill was confusing, and would leave Welsh ministers with fewer powers. | |
Mr Crabb said he would shorten the list of powers kept back by Westminster, and consider ways to better reflect Wales in the legal system. | |
The bill will be delayed until summer to allow time for changes, he added. | |
The new legislation is supposed to settle constitutional wrangling by making clear which powers were to be devolved and which not. | |
It includes areas such as energy, transport and elections. | It includes areas such as energy, transport and elections. |
'Pause needed' | |
But Welsh ministers have criticised the draft Wales Bill, saying some aspects of it would see them with fewer powers. | But Welsh ministers have criticised the draft Wales Bill, saying some aspects of it would see them with fewer powers. |
A report by the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, published on Sunday, called for a "pause" in the process. | |
The MPs said a proposed list of powers that are not devolved needed a re-think, with Whitehall departments forced to give a clearer reason why some issues should not be handed over to Cardiff Bay. | |
The report suggested Welsh ministers may need permission from London before passing some laws - described by First Minister Carwyn Jones as an "English veto" - were "too complex". | |
Responding to the report on Monday, Mr Crabb said: "It's become clear to me that there are some areas of the bill where we need to make significant and substantial changes." | |
He added it was "never the intention of this bill to increase constitutional red tape". | |
A working group will be set up to look at whether distinct arrangements are needed for Welsh law. | |
The final version of the bill - due in February - will not be published until May at the earliest. |