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Voters want end to devolution power arguments, Crabb says Welsh assembly needs 'sense of purpose', Crabb says
(35 minutes later)
Voters are "desperate for politics to move on" from arguments over assembly powers to delivering better services, the Welsh secretary has said. People in Wales want better public services and an end to debate about funding and powers, the Welsh secretary has told assembly members.
Stephen Crabb told AMs the assembly should become a full parliament with tax raising powers. Stephen Crabb said the assembly should become a full parliament with tax raising powers.
He said the UK government was committed to "fundamentally re-wiring the devolution settlement for Wales, to make it clearer, stronger and fairer".
But he said giving Wales new powers to raise taxes was "part of a package".
UK ministers have been pushing the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay to hold a referendum on taking control of 10p in the pound of income tax.UK ministers have been pushing the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay to hold a referendum on taking control of 10p in the pound of income tax.
There has been recent speculation that this could happen without a poll.
It follows developments in Scotland and plans for further devolution in some of the English regions.
'National ambition''National ambition'
Mr Crabb has previously said the referendum should be held in return for a deal on a minimum level of annual funding for the Welsh government. Mr Crabb was visiting the Senedd on Wednesday to deliver his first statement to the assembly on the Queen's Speech.
Addressing AMs in the assembly chamber on Wednesday, he said: "The people of Wales are desperate for their politics to move on from devolution and powers to delivery and real change. He pledged to scrap the annual event, calling it an "anachronism" for an institution whose "destiny" was to become a parliament.
"For this place to become a true forum of debate, the articulator of our national ambition… not a vehicle for a never-ending conversation about more powers." A draft Wales Bill outlining new powers for Cardiff Bay will be published in the autumn.
Mr Crabb also called for a "new era of pragmatism" in Welsh politics to ensure Wales does not fall behind. Mr Crabb said: "I firmly believe the Welsh public are hungry for us to move forward as a nation and for this place - this national assembly, this parliament - to become a true forum of debate and resolution with a sense of purpose and action, the articulator of our national ambition for economic growth, wealth creation, educational achievement, health outcomes.
On tax, he said: "It is now time that the Welsh government demonstrates its commitment to becoming a full and accountable legislature, by making progress on the income tax raising powers that are available to it." He called on the assembly to "provide the solutions to all the issues that really matter to the people it serves" and not be "a vehicle for a never-ending conversation about more powers or the generator of some dull consensus that settles on mediocrity where funding is always deployed as the great national excuse for not achieve our potential".
Public spending per head in Wales is currently higher than in England. Not once was he asked about powers and devolution by voters during the general election campaign, the Preseli Pembrokeshire MP said.
The UK government is planning a guaranteed minimum level for the Welsh government's annual grant - expected to be between 13% and 16% higher than English public spending levels. He said there was an "enormous" gulf between the concerns of voters and the priorities of the "Welsh commentariat".
The exact figure will be thrashed out in the next spending review, due in 2016.
Earlier in June, First Minister Carwyn Jones said handing income tax powers to the Welsh government was a "logical next step", as long as a deal on the budget could be reached.