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Warning of Tory block on powers Warning of Tory block on powers
(about 4 hours later)
A Conservative general election win would raise questions about the system of gradually transferring powers to Wales, a senior AM will warn. A Conservative general election win would raise questions about the system of gradually transferring powers to Wales, a senior AM has warned.
Welsh assembly Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis Thomas will suggest Tory MPs could reject bids for power because they oppose the policy being proposed. Welsh assembly Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis Thomas suggested Tory MPs could reject bids for power because they oppose the policy being proposed.
He will speak at an event at the National Eisteddfod in Bala, Gwynedd. He was speaking at an event at the National Eisteddfod in Bala, Gwynedd.
Tories said they wanted to improve the process before it put "unsustainable pressures" on Cardiff-London relations.Tories said they wanted to improve the process before it put "unsustainable pressures" on Cardiff-London relations.
Lord Elis Thomas will tell an audience at a Law Society event the system by which the assembly draws down new powers from Westminster "has worked to a certain extent" but is far too lengthy and complicated. Lord Elis Thomas told an audience at a Law Society event the system by which the assembly draws down new powers from Westminster "has worked to a certain extent" but is far too lengthy and complicated.
If the assembly needs new powers to pass a law, on matters such as education, agriculture or health for example, it needs the UK Parliament to pass a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) granting it the powers to legislate. If the assembly needs new powers to pass a law, on matters such as education, agriculture or health for example, it needs Parliament to pass a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) granting it the powers to legislate.
Of course, the election of a Conservative majority in the House of Commons would raise questions regarding the sustainability of the process Dafydd Elis Thomas on the transfer of powers to the Welsh assemblyOf course, the election of a Conservative majority in the House of Commons would raise questions regarding the sustainability of the process Dafydd Elis Thomas on the transfer of powers to the Welsh assembly
It is this process, introduced two years ago, which Lord Elis Thomas believes is taking too long.It is this process, introduced two years ago, which Lord Elis Thomas believes is taking too long.
He will argue that MPs should not be examining bids for powers in so much detail unless they raise "constitutional questions". He argued MPs should not be examining bids for powers in so much detail unless "constitutional questions" were involved.
He will also warn that a general election could scupper bids already in the pipeline, including a much-delayed request for powers to legislate on the Welsh language. He also warned that a general election could scupper bids already in the pipeline, including a much-delayed request for powers to legislate on the Welsh language.
He will say: "With a parliamentary general election approaching, there is an increasing risk that important orders which have not completed the process when an election is called will therefore fall, and will need to start the process again following the election." He said: "With a parliamentary general election approaching, there is an increasing risk that important orders which have not completed the process when an election is called will therefore fall, and will need to start the process again following the election."
'Momentum''Momentum'
Lord Elis Thomas will also raise concerns about how the system might work with a Conservative majority at Westminster. Lord Elis Thomas also raised concerns about how the system might work with a Conservative majority at Westminster.
"Of course, the election of a Conservative majority in the House of Commons would raise questions regarding the sustainability of the process," he will say. "Of course, the election of a Conservative majority in the House of Commons would raise questions regarding the sustainability of the process," he said.
"What if a Welsh affairs committee (which scrutinises LCOs) with a majority of members from that party decided to recommend rejecting a Legislative Competence Order because the policy proposed to be implemented under the proposed competence was not to the liking of those members?""What if a Welsh affairs committee (which scrutinises LCOs) with a majority of members from that party decided to recommend rejecting a Legislative Competence Order because the policy proposed to be implemented under the proposed competence was not to the liking of those members?"
But he will also suggest a move to hold a referendum in Wales on giving the assembly full law-making powers all at once, rather than piecemeal, would gain momentum if there was Conservative opposition at Westminster to the bids for powers. But he suggested a move to hold a referendum in Wales on giving the assembly full law-making powers all at once, rather than piecemeal, would gain momentum if there was Conservative opposition at Westminster to the bids for powers.
A Welsh Conservative spokesman said: "We have repeatedly stated that we want the National Assembly to work in the interests of everyone in Wales and that devolution is here to stay.A Welsh Conservative spokesman said: "We have repeatedly stated that we want the National Assembly to work in the interests of everyone in Wales and that devolution is here to stay.
"However we do have concerns - shared by many people - about the current settlement, devised by Labour, which is a recipe for confusion and conflict."However we do have concerns - shared by many people - about the current settlement, devised by Labour, which is a recipe for confusion and conflict.
"As a party we've been looking at ways of improving the legislative process and ending the logjam before it places unsustainable pressures on the relationship between Cardiff and London.""As a party we've been looking at ways of improving the legislative process and ending the logjam before it places unsustainable pressures on the relationship between Cardiff and London."