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Devolution: Assembly members to vote on Wales Bill Wales Bill: AMs back further devolution powers for Wales
(about 1 hour later)
Assembly members are due to vote on whether they support the next stage of devolution outlined in the Wales Bill. AMs have backed the UK Government's Wales Bill in a Senedd vote - meaning the next stage of devolution can become law.
It promises new powers for Wales, but has been criticised for possibly rolling back devolution in some areas. The bill promises new powers for Wales, but there have been claims it would reduce AMs law-making powers.
First Minister Carwyn Jones recommended AMs vote for the bill, saying it needs improvement but "takes Wales forward". First Minister Carwyn Jones recommended AMs vote for the bill, saying it could be improved but "takes Wales forward".
But Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood suggested Wales had been "backed into a corner" over the devolution legislation. But Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood suggested Wales had been "backed into a corner" over the legislation.
A majority of AMs are expected to support the Wales Bill, with the vote happening later on Tuesday evening. The vote was 38-17 in favour of the bill.
Labour - the largest group with 29 of the 60 assembly seats - voted on Monday to back the legislation despite reservations. The Wales Bill offers to extend the transfer of powers over tax, energy, transport and the assembly's own affairs.
They will be joined by the Conservatives, who have also said they will support the bill. Labour - the largest group with 29 of the 60 assembly seats - agreed on Monday to back the legislation despite reservations.
UKIP and Plaid Cymru will vote against the bill, but for different reasons. It was joined in supporting the bill by the Conservatives, ensuring the motion to give consent to the bill passed.
The latest Wales Bill offers to extend the transfer of powers over tax, energy, transport and the assembly's own affairs. UKIP and Plaid Cymru opposed the law - UKIP voted against because it devolved income tax without a referendum and Plaid because of the claimed "roll-back" in assembly powers.
It also introduces a system of powers that are reserved to Westminster - such as defence and foreign affairs - with everything else assumed to be devolved. The Wales Bill introduces a system of powers that are reserved to Westminster - such as defence and foreign affairs - with everything else assumed to be devolved.
But the bill has been criticised for being unclear, for having a large list of reservations and for potentially resulting in a reduction of the assembly's ability to make laws. But some have claimed that the new devolution model is unclear and have criticised the large list of reservations.
The first minister told the Senedd debate on the Wales Bill: "On balance, I believe it is in the best interests of Wales, as we look at dealing with the issue of Brexit, that we take what is on offer today". In a debate on the bill in the Senedd, the first minister said: "On balance, I believe it is in the best interests of Wales as we look at dealing with the issue of Brexit that we take what is on offer today."
Mr Jones said the bill should be seen as "another step on what is a long journey of devolution", with some areas having "a need for improvement", such as the lack of devolution of air passenger duty. Mr Jones said the bill should be seen as "another step on what is a long journey of devolution".
He added that it was "not possible to conclude that the reserved powers model, welcome though it is in theory, is fit for purpose in the long term". However he said there was "a need for improvement" in some areas, such as the lack of devolution of air passenger duty.
He added it was "not possible to conclude that the reserved powers model, welcome though it is in theory, is fit for purpose in the long term".
"There is no other country that I know of where two legislatures exist in the same jurisdiction", he said."There is no other country that I know of where two legislatures exist in the same jurisdiction", he said.
"It's possible in the future that somebody might be arrested in Cardiff for something that is not an offence in Wales.""It's possible in the future that somebody might be arrested in Cardiff for something that is not an offence in Wales."
The first minister said it confuses the "public and professions". Plaid Cymru decided at a group meeting on Tuesday to oppose the bill. Sian Gwenllian, Simon Thomas and Elin Jones voted in favour, with the rest of the group against.
Plaid Cymru decided at its group meeting earlier on Tuesday to oppose the bill. While Sian Gwenllian, Simon Thomas and Elin Jones voted in favour, the rest of the 11-member group opposed the move. Ms Wood told the debate Plaid was voting against the Wales Bill "with a heavy heart".
Ms Wood said Plaid was voting against the Wales Bill "with a heavy heart".
"We never want to see Wales backed into a corner again," she said."We never want to see Wales backed into a corner again," she said.
Her party supported the fiscal framework on Wales' funding negotiated between the UK and Welsh governments, she said.Her party supported the fiscal framework on Wales' funding negotiated between the UK and Welsh governments, she said.
But she added: "The UK Government did not have to tie the fiscal framework to a bill that would restrict our ability to make laws.But she added: "The UK Government did not have to tie the fiscal framework to a bill that would restrict our ability to make laws.
"The public finances of Wales should not be conditional on accepting a worsened legislative framework.""The public finances of Wales should not be conditional on accepting a worsened legislative framework."
The votes of Tory AMs should ensure, with Labour, that the motion on the bill will pass. Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Is any bill perfect? No it's not.
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Is any bill perfect? No its not. "But this bill offers a huge opportunity to take responsibility over energy, over transport, over electoral arrangements, over income tax - the list goes on."
"But this bill offers a huge opportunity to take responsibility over energy, over transport, over electoral arrangements, over income tax, the list goes on."
He said it was a "sad day when Plaid Cymru in this chamber choose to vote against... [an] opportunity for a huge transfer of responsibility and sovereignty".He said it was a "sad day when Plaid Cymru in this chamber choose to vote against... [an] opportunity for a huge transfer of responsibility and sovereignty".
UKIP group leader Neil Hamilton told the Senedd he supported the broad principles of the Wales Bill.UKIP group leader Neil Hamilton told the Senedd he supported the broad principles of the Wales Bill.
But he said the removal of the referendum requirement before income tax powers are devolved is a "constitutional deficiency we ought not to ignore". But he said the removal of the need for a referendum before income tax powers were devolved was a "constitutional deficiency we ought not to ignore".
He said it is an "important principle that politicians should keep their promises and should be held to their word". He said it was an "important principle that politicians should keep their promises and should be held to their word".
Mark Reckless, UKIP AM for South Wales East, added: "They know if they did have a referendum they would lose."Mark Reckless, UKIP AM for South Wales East, added: "They know if they did have a referendum they would lose."
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Davies said the Welsh devolution settlement will need another rethink because of Brexit. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Davies said the Welsh devolution settlement would need a rethink because of Brexit.
It is the fourth Wales Bill since the devolution process began in 1998 with the act which created the assembly.It is the fourth Wales Bill since the devolution process began in 1998 with the act which created the assembly.
Mr Davies said powers returned to the UK by the European Union after Brexit would require more legislation "to realign those responsibilities".Mr Davies said powers returned to the UK by the European Union after Brexit would require more legislation "to realign those responsibilities".
"This will not be the last Wales Bill, but it will be the last Wales Bill in this parliamentary session", he added."This will not be the last Wales Bill, but it will be the last Wales Bill in this parliamentary session", he added.
Mr Davies also regretted the UK government's decision not to devolve powers over air passenger duty.Mr Davies also regretted the UK government's decision not to devolve powers over air passenger duty.
He said he thought it would be devolved eventually as there was "no coherent argument to hold it back".He said he thought it would be devolved eventually as there was "no coherent argument to hold it back".
What is in the Wales Bill?What is in the Wales Bill?
Under a political convention between the assembly and Westminster, the Wales Bill needs a legislative consent motion passed in the Senedd before it can be become law. Under a political convention between the assembly and Westminster, the Wales Bill needed a legislative consent motion passed in the Senedd before it can be become law.
That is because the Wales Bill relates to devolved matters.That is because the Wales Bill relates to devolved matters.
The convention does not have legal force but Wales Office minister Lord Bourne has said the bill will not become law if the assembly does not approve it. The convention does not have legal force but Wales Office minister Lord Bourne has said the bill would not become law if the assembly did not approve it.
The vote means the bill will now return to Parliament for the final stages of the legislative process.