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/wales_politics/7566533.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Call for Welsh laws cut rejected | Call for Welsh laws cut rejected |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The Welsh assembly's presiding officer has rejected calls to cut the number of bids for more powers by the assembly government and AMs. | The Welsh assembly's presiding officer has rejected calls to cut the number of bids for more powers by the assembly government and AMs. |
| Dafydd Elis-Thomas dismissed claims by the Welsh affairs select committee that they are in danger of being swamped by the number of requests. | Dafydd Elis-Thomas dismissed claims by the Welsh affairs select committee that they are in danger of being swamped by the number of requests. |
| His comments are in a letter to Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy. | His comments are in a letter to Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy. |
| Mr Murphy has not been able to respond to the presiding officer because he is away on holiday. | Mr Murphy has not been able to respond to the presiding officer because he is away on holiday. |
| Last month the committee said that eleven proposed legislative competence orders (LCOs) bids in less than one year for the assembly risked swamping the system. | |
| But in his letter to Mr Murphy, Lord Elis-Thomas said this figure was "misleading". | |
| Far from being swamped by more LCOs than expected, the number it has had to deal with has been at the lower end of what was estimated Dafydd Elis-Thomas | Far from being swamped by more LCOs than expected, the number it has had to deal with has been at the lower end of what was estimated Dafydd Elis-Thomas |
| He wrote that only four proposed orders have actually been referred to the Westminster committee and accuses it of "raising groundless fears". | He wrote that only four proposed orders have actually been referred to the Westminster committee and accuses it of "raising groundless fears". |
| Lord Elis-Thomas said since the assembly acquired its new legislative powers in May 2007, seven proposed LCOs were laid before the body, five of which were proposed by the assembly government and two by backbenchers. | Lord Elis-Thomas said since the assembly acquired its new legislative powers in May 2007, seven proposed LCOs were laid before the body, five of which were proposed by the assembly government and two by backbenchers. |
| But he adds: "As the memorandum itself makes clear, only four of these proposed orders have as yet been referred to the Welsh affairs committee. | But he adds: "As the memorandum itself makes clear, only four of these proposed orders have as yet been referred to the Welsh affairs committee. |
| Lord Elis-Thomas said the figure of 11 was a list of all proposals for more powers which had been announced in the 14 months since the new powers were acquired. | |
| He said that figure included one proposal which hds already been rejected by the assembly itself as well as one whose principle had not yet even been considered. | He said that figure included one proposal which hds already been rejected by the assembly itself as well as one whose principle had not yet even been considered. |
| 'Excessive strain' | 'Excessive strain' |
| Two more proposed LCOs - one from the assembly government and another from an AM - have so far only been the subject of announcements and have not yet been laid before the assembly. | Two more proposed LCOs - one from the assembly government and another from an AM - have so far only been the subject of announcements and have not yet been laid before the assembly. |
| "Far from being swamped by more LCOs than expected, the number it has had to deal with has been at the lower end of what was estimated," said Lord Elis-Thomas. | "Far from being swamped by more LCOs than expected, the number it has had to deal with has been at the lower end of what was estimated," said Lord Elis-Thomas. |
| Last month, Lord Elis-Thomas said it was for Parliament to keep up with the assembly and that the system dealing with LCOs would become simpler over time. | Last month, Lord Elis-Thomas said it was for Parliament to keep up with the assembly and that the system dealing with LCOs would become simpler over time. |
| In his latest letter, the presiding officer wrote, the assembly's own committees had fully completed consideration and reported on seven actual proposed LCOs, "with no suggestion that this has imposed an excessive strain on the assembly's more limited resources and certainly no claim that the system is being 'swamped'". | In his latest letter, the presiding officer wrote, the assembly's own committees had fully completed consideration and reported on seven actual proposed LCOs, "with no suggestion that this has imposed an excessive strain on the assembly's more limited resources and certainly no claim that the system is being 'swamped'". |
| In conclusion, Lord Elis-Thomas assured Mr Murphy that he emphasised "my wish, and the wish of the National Assembly that the new legislative arrangements are made as effective as possible." | In conclusion, Lord Elis-Thomas assured Mr Murphy that he emphasised "my wish, and the wish of the National Assembly that the new legislative arrangements are made as effective as possible." |