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| Draft Wales Bill: More AMs could boost scrutiny, MPs told | Draft Wales Bill: More AMs could boost scrutiny, MPs told |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Increasing the number of assembly members could boost scrutiny of the Welsh government, Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies has said. | Increasing the number of assembly members could boost scrutiny of the Welsh government, Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies has said. |
| He was giving evidence to MPs on the Welsh Affairs committee, who came to Cardiff to hear evidence about plans for further devolution. | He was giving evidence to MPs on the Welsh Affairs committee, who came to Cardiff to hear evidence about plans for further devolution. |
| Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood called for an increase from 60 to 100 AMs. | Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood called for an increase from 60 to 100 AMs. |
| Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said there should be more AMs, but fewer Welsh MPs. | Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams said there should be more AMs, but fewer Welsh MPs. |
| Westminster's Welsh Affairs committee and the assembly's constitutional and legislative affairs committee held separate and joint meetings on Monday examining new powers on offer to Wales. | |
| More say over energy, transport and assembly elections are among the proposals in the draft Wales Bill published in October. | More say over energy, transport and assembly elections are among the proposals in the draft Wales Bill published in October. |
| Mr Davies told the MPs: "More AMs most probably could do better scrutiny. | Mr Davies told the MPs: "More AMs most probably could do better scrutiny. |
| "I don't think there's an argument out there yet that has settled on a number." | "I don't think there's an argument out there yet that has settled on a number." |
| He added that the way the Wales Bill was drafted meant there would be no extra funding to pay for more AMs, so the assembly would have to pick up the cost. | He added that the way the Wales Bill was drafted meant there would be no extra funding to pay for more AMs, so the assembly would have to pick up the cost. |
| When asked about the assembly's workload, Ms Wood said that "somewhere between 80 and 100 for the place to work properly", but added that it should cost no more. | When asked about the assembly's workload, Ms Wood said that "somewhere between 80 and 100 for the place to work properly", but added that it should cost no more. |
| Ms Williams said: "Any increase would lead to a decrease in the number of MPs. | Ms Williams said: "Any increase would lead to a decrease in the number of MPs. |
| "There is no appetite to spend more money on politicians." | "There is no appetite to spend more money on politicians." |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones was also giving evidence, along with legal experts and academics. | |
| The UK government has rejected claims by Mr Jones and other AMs that a new "reserved powers" model - which names the responsibilities remaining at Westminster - will weaken the assembly's current powers. | The UK government has rejected claims by Mr Jones and other AMs that a new "reserved powers" model - which names the responsibilities remaining at Westminster - will weaken the assembly's current powers. |
| Sir Paul Silk, who published two reports on Welsh devolution for the UK government, warned against rushing into fresh legislation. | Sir Paul Silk, who published two reports on Welsh devolution for the UK government, warned against rushing into fresh legislation. |
| He told the Welsh Affairs committee he recommended "doing it in a more considered way and doing it right". | He told the Welsh Affairs committee he recommended "doing it in a more considered way and doing it right". |
| Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor | Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor |
| The debate about the number of assembly members in future has largely been absent so far in the discussions about the proposals included in the draft Wales bill. | The debate about the number of assembly members in future has largely been absent so far in the discussions about the proposals included in the draft Wales bill. |
| Since the publication last month, the debate has been dominated by political attacks between the Wales Office and politicians in Cardiff Bay, who broadly feel the measures would mean too much power is retained at Westminster. | Since the publication last month, the debate has been dominated by political attacks between the Wales Office and politicians in Cardiff Bay, who broadly feel the measures would mean too much power is retained at Westminster. |
| Now we can expect the hard yards of level-headed analysis of what the proposals would mean for Wales. | Now we can expect the hard yards of level-headed analysis of what the proposals would mean for Wales. |
| With regard to the number of AMs, it was interesting that none of the opposition party leaders suggested retaining the existing 60. | With regard to the number of AMs, it was interesting that none of the opposition party leaders suggested retaining the existing 60. |
| The question is how palatable that will be with the public. | The question is how palatable that will be with the public. |
| One MP told me that during the course of the general election he knocked on thousands of doors and no-one called for more politicians in that time. | One MP told me that during the course of the general election he knocked on thousands of doors and no-one called for more politicians in that time. |
| There was also a rare display of unity among the opposition leaders when to varying degrees they all expressed concerns about the proposals. | There was also a rare display of unity among the opposition leaders when to varying degrees they all expressed concerns about the proposals. |