This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7506354.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Morgan to outline new Welsh laws Poverty and housing laws planned
(about 3 hours later)
First Minister Rhodri Morgan sought to play down expectations, ahead of unveiling plans for new Welsh laws. First Minister Rhodri Morgan has outlined plans for new Welsh laws on child poverty, affordable housing and home care charging over the next year.
Measures for the year ahead on child poverty, home care charging and affordable housing are expected later. The assembly government's legislative programme also included laws to help children with additional learning needs and to standardise home care charging.
He said he wanted "to make a practical difference to the people of Wales".
But the Conservatives accused ministers of "failing to match ambition with delivery".
Earlier Mr Morgan had sought to play down expectations.
"We don't want to raise peoples' hopes too high - that there is a legislative solution to every problem in society or the economy; there isn't," he said."We don't want to raise peoples' hopes too high - that there is a legislative solution to every problem in society or the economy; there isn't," he said.
Mr Morgan said there had already been "good progress" but the Conservatives claimed he was "sounding the retreat".Mr Morgan said there had already been "good progress" but the Conservatives claimed he was "sounding the retreat".
The measures are thought to be at the centre of the assembly government's legislative programme for the year ahead, which Mr Morgan will outline. He emphasised using the new powers devolved to the Welsh assembly to deliver Wales-only solutions.
He will emphasise using the new powers devolved to the Welsh assembly to deliver Wales-only solutions. Measure
Royal assent was passed on the first measure (or Welsh law) on Friday.Royal assent was passed on the first measure (or Welsh law) on Friday.
Westminster gets it wrong even though they've been passing laws for a thousand years Rhodri Morgan, First Minister
Over the past year under the 2006 Government of Wales Act, the scope of the assembly's powers have been gradually increased.Over the past year under the 2006 Government of Wales Act, the scope of the assembly's powers have been gradually increased.
This means it has gained powers to make legislation without permission from Westminster.This means it has gained powers to make legislation without permission from Westminster.
For example, the assembly has been given the power to standardise home care charging across Wales. Mr Morgan is expected to announce that this will be going ahead in his speech later. For example, the assembly has been given the power to standardise home care charging across Wales. Mr Morgan is announced that this would go ahead in his speech.
It is also thought more bids for further powers will be outlined, including one about a statutory duty on councils to promote culture. More bids for further powers were also outlined on Tuesday, including one to impose a statutory duty on councils to promote culture.
The NHS Redress Measure (or Welsh law) which will make it easier and quicker to claim compensation after negligent treatment by the Welsh NHS, was approved on Friday.The NHS Redress Measure (or Welsh law) which will make it easier and quicker to claim compensation after negligent treatment by the Welsh NHS, was approved on Friday.
'Silver bullet'
Before making his statement, Mr Morgan sought to downplay expectations about what could be achieved over the next year.
"We are in the very early stages of a learning curve and Westminster gets it wrong even though they've been passing laws for a thousand years," he said.
"We don't want to raise peoples' hopes too high - that there is a legislative solution to every problem in society or the economy; there isn't.
"And second, that we are still building up our capacity as a legislature because it's totally new to us but we are getting there.
"I think we've made pretty good progress in the first year and I hope to lay out how we can make what we're doing relevant to the ordinary lives of the people of Wales without presenting it as a silver bullet," Mr Morgan added.
But Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne said it was the first minister himself who had previously made unrealistic claims and he was now having to "sound the retreat".
"He said we'll be looking at seven meaty pieces of legislation from this place per year, every year for four years," Mr Bourne said.
"He's realised that the reality is that it's being blocked at Westminster by a government made up of Labour.
"It sounds to me like he's sounding the retreat and trying to find a reason to sound the retreat," he added.
'Further and faster'
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German accused Labour and Conservative MPs in Westminster of "holding Wales back" by preventing the transfer of further powers to Cardiff.
He urged the assembly government to pursue all options available to it "so the assembly can make a bigger difference for the people of Wales".
"I hope today's statement will set devolution moving further and faster in the coming year, " Mr German added.