3. 3. Statement: The Wales Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:12 pm on 8 June 2016.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 3:12, 8 June 2016

I’m delighted, as the First Minister is, to give a very cautious welcome to this step forward, but it does seem as if it’s always a slightly hesitant step, slightly catching up with where we should be. So, I would certainly urge the First Minister—and I think it seems to be the will of the Chamber today—to push hard in the negotiations, to work with colleagues in Westminster, not only with the Wales Office, but with other colleagues, to try and get more out of this, because, certainly, he was at the forefront, when the last Wales Bill came forward, of criticism amongst Welsh civic society and others. It was unloved, it was undernourished, and ultimately it was abandoned in the constitutional wilderness. This is an opportunity, as the gentleman opposite who also has experience of Westminster has just remarked, to actually make something good for the people of Wales, not just for the good of saving the embarrassment of Wales Office Ministers. I would give him my strongest support in taking that message forward, because there is good in this Bill, but it’s nowhere near where it needs to be yet.