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| Let MPs serve in Welsh government, accountants say | Let MPs serve in Welsh government, accountants say |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs could serve as Welsh government ministers in a bid to widen the talent pool, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales says. | MPs could serve as Welsh government ministers in a bid to widen the talent pool, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales says. |
| The move would also ease the "growing burden" on politicians in Cardiff Bay as more power is devolved, the group's Wales director Martin Warren said. | The move would also ease the "growing burden" on politicians in Cardiff Bay as more power is devolved, the group's Wales director Martin Warren said. |
| Peers serving in the UK cabinet have set the precedent, he added. | Peers serving in the UK cabinet have set the precedent, he added. |
| Parties in the assembly have questioned the idea on the grounds of democracy and accountability. | Parties in the assembly have questioned the idea on the grounds of democracy and accountability. |
| The accountants' organisation said scrutiny of Welsh legislation was suffering due to "significant workloads for politicians shifting from Westminster to Cardiff Bay". | The accountants' organisation said scrutiny of Welsh legislation was suffering due to "significant workloads for politicians shifting from Westminster to Cardiff Bay". |
| If it proved difficult to increase the number of AMs from the present 60, a bigger role could be given to the 40 MPs from Wales as their role in Parliament diminished, Mr Warren said. | If it proved difficult to increase the number of AMs from the present 60, a bigger role could be given to the 40 MPs from Wales as their role in Parliament diminished, Mr Warren said. |
| 'Small country' | 'Small country' |
| He suggested letting the first minister appoint MPs to the Welsh cabinet, or inviting MPs to serve on assembly committees, in both cases reducing the demands on the time of politicians in Cardiff Bay. | He suggested letting the first minister appoint MPs to the Welsh cabinet, or inviting MPs to serve on assembly committees, in both cases reducing the demands on the time of politicians in Cardiff Bay. |
| Another idea put forward was the creation of a non-political body of professionals who could advise on and scrutinise policy. | Another idea put forward was the creation of a non-political body of professionals who could advise on and scrutinise policy. |
| "Wales is a small country with limited resources and making best use of those resources within a democratic framework to achieve for Wales must surely be an objective that crosses all political borders," said Mr Warren. | "Wales is a small country with limited resources and making best use of those resources within a democratic framework to achieve for Wales must surely be an objective that crosses all political borders," said Mr Warren. |
| But Dr Rebecca Rumbul, politics lecturer at the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University, said involving MPs in assembly business might be "confusing" to voters. | |
| Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black was also doubtful, claiming MPs "won't be able to do either job properly". | Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black was also doubtful, claiming MPs "won't be able to do either job properly". |
| For Plaid Cymru, AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "Placing the members of another parliament in the government of a different country would rightly be considered as undemocratic." | For Plaid Cymru, AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "Placing the members of another parliament in the government of a different country would rightly be considered as undemocratic." |
| A Welsh government spokesman said: "Ministers are selected from the membership of the democratically elected National Assembly and we see no need to change this." | A Welsh government spokesman said: "Ministers are selected from the membership of the democratically elected National Assembly and we see no need to change this." |