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| Welsh Secretary 'optimistic' on revised Wales Bill deal | Welsh Secretary 'optimistic' on revised Wales Bill deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has said he is optimistic the UK and Welsh governments can come to an agreement on the Wales Bill. | Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has said he is optimistic the UK and Welsh governments can come to an agreement on the Wales Bill. |
| A revised version of the proposed law, that reforms the way the assembly makes laws and boosts its powers, was published on Tuesday. | A revised version of the proposed law, that reforms the way the assembly makes laws and boosts its powers, was published on Tuesday. |
| Its earlier draft proved controversial amid claims it would hit AMs' powers. | Its earlier draft proved controversial amid claims it would hit AMs' powers. |
| But Mr Cairns said the new law would not allow UK ministers to block Welsh laws. | But Mr Cairns said the new law would not allow UK ministers to block Welsh laws. |
| Under the revised version, more powers, including coal licensing, would be devolved than previously planned. | Under the revised version, more powers, including coal licensing, would be devolved than previously planned. |
| Partial control over income tax would also be granted without a referendum. | Partial control over income tax would also be granted without a referendum. |
| The bill has now been presented to Parliament and is expected to complete its passage through the Houses of Parliament within the next 12 months. | The bill has now been presented to Parliament and is expected to complete its passage through the Houses of Parliament within the next 12 months. |
| Mr Cairns told BBC Wales the bill's "fundamentals are broadly agreed" with the Welsh Government. | Mr Cairns told BBC Wales the bill's "fundamentals are broadly agreed" with the Welsh Government. |
| "We want to negotiate on the fringes of elements of the bill but I'm optimistic that we can overcome those," he said. | "We want to negotiate on the fringes of elements of the bill but I'm optimistic that we can overcome those," he said. |
| Mr Cairns said the the UK and Welsh governments "both want the same thing, we want the Welsh Government to be accountable for the decisions it takes, but also for people to understand what is devolved and what is not devolved". | Mr Cairns said the the UK and Welsh governments "both want the same thing, we want the Welsh Government to be accountable for the decisions it takes, but also for people to understand what is devolved and what is not devolved". |
| Asked if there would be any way the UK government could block the wishes of Welsh ministers on making legislation, he said: "Not at all." | Asked if there would be any way the UK government could block the wishes of Welsh ministers on making legislation, he said: "Not at all." |
| "We're asking the assembly to rightly consider the implications of any law that it passes but every mature institution rightly does that." | "We're asking the assembly to rightly consider the implications of any law that it passes but every mature institution rightly does that." |
| Writing in the Western Mail, Mr Cairns said: "The UK government has listened, overhauled the draft bill in key areas and has produced a piece of clear legislation that takes account of the distinct and growing body of Welsh law." | Writing in the Western Mail, Mr Cairns said: "The UK government has listened, overhauled the draft bill in key areas and has produced a piece of clear legislation that takes account of the distinct and growing body of Welsh law." |
| The Wales Bill promises new powers for the assembly - including over assembly elections, speed limits, and fracking - and rewrites how Wales is governed by defining what is under the control of Westminster, known as the reserved powers model. | The Wales Bill promises new powers for the assembly - including over assembly elections, speed limits, and fracking - and rewrites how Wales is governed by defining what is under the control of Westminster, known as the reserved powers model. |
| The change is an effort to make Wales' devolution settlement clearer. The current system defines what is under the assembly's control, with everything else assumed to lie with the UK government. | The change is an effort to make Wales' devolution settlement clearer. The current system defines what is under the assembly's control, with everything else assumed to lie with the UK government. |
| But the draft version, published last year, faced considerable criticism across the political spectrum, with some saying the law would reduce the assembly's powers rather than increase them. | But the draft version, published last year, faced considerable criticism across the political spectrum, with some saying the law would reduce the assembly's powers rather than increase them. |
| The row prompted the UK government to promise significant changes to the planned legislation, and the revised bill has several changes that include: | The row prompted the UK government to promise significant changes to the planned legislation, and the revised bill has several changes that include: |
| There is no provision for a distinct legal jurisdiction despite claims the new system needs a clearer separation between English and Welsh law to work properly. | There is no provision for a distinct legal jurisdiction despite claims the new system needs a clearer separation between English and Welsh law to work properly. |
| However, a working group of officials from the Wales Office, Ministry of Justice, Welsh Government, and Lord Chief Justice's office is to be set up to decide how the judicial assessments are dealt with. | |
| That group will report back by autumn 2016 on the "constitutional and practical implications" of diverging Welsh laws within the England and Wales justice system. | |
| David Cornock - parliamentary correspondent Wales | David Cornock - parliamentary correspondent Wales |
| "The Wales Bill," says the secretary of state, "is in the finest traditions of Welsh radical reformers like Lloyd George. It is designed to set the course for decades ahead and put a definitive end to outdated arguments over who possesses what powers." | "The Wales Bill," says the secretary of state, "is in the finest traditions of Welsh radical reformers like Lloyd George. It is designed to set the course for decades ahead and put a definitive end to outdated arguments over who possesses what powers." |
| What could possibly go wrong? | What could possibly go wrong? |
| You cannot fault Alun Cairns' optimism as he unveils the latest Wales Bill on Tuesday but you may feel we have been here before. | You cannot fault Alun Cairns' optimism as he unveils the latest Wales Bill on Tuesday but you may feel we have been here before. |
| For more see David's blog. | For more see David's blog. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones previously warned the draft Wales Bill could amount to an English veto on Welsh law. | First Minister Carwyn Jones previously warned the draft Wales Bill could amount to an English veto on Welsh law. |
| But on Tuesday Mr Jones told BBC Wales' Good Morning Wales programme: "There are some areas where we are not going to agree but there has been a fair bit of progress since the last time around and we've got something now that can be worked on to get it improved by the time it becomes an act." | But on Tuesday Mr Jones told BBC Wales' Good Morning Wales programme: "There are some areas where we are not going to agree but there has been a fair bit of progress since the last time around and we've got something now that can be worked on to get it improved by the time it becomes an act." |
| Mr Jones suggested there was still some disagreement on income tax varying powers. | Mr Jones suggested there was still some disagreement on income tax varying powers. |
| "What is a bit odd at the moment is that income tax powers can effectively be forced on the assembly without the assembly's agreement. I think that's wrong," he said. | "What is a bit odd at the moment is that income tax powers can effectively be forced on the assembly without the assembly's agreement. I think that's wrong," he said. |
| "I think it should be a joint process, that the assembly has to agree to take these powers." | "I think it should be a joint process, that the assembly has to agree to take these powers." |
| Plaid Cymru Westminster group leader Hywel Williams said: "We welcome the publication of a new Wales Bill that has at least sought to reverse the worst aspects of the previous draft." | Plaid Cymru Westminster group leader Hywel Williams said: "We welcome the publication of a new Wales Bill that has at least sought to reverse the worst aspects of the previous draft." |