3. 3. Statement: The Wales Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:19 pm on 8 June 2016.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 3:19, 8 June 2016

I welcome the changes in the new draft Bill. I don’t think it goes far enough, but I think there has been some progress, so it’s a cautious welcome. I have a few quick questions. I think there’s been general welcome that electoral arrangements are going to be devolved to this Assembly, and I’m looking forward to the time when the Assembly may vote for votes for 16 and 17-year-olds for the Assembly elections. I think that’s one of the great things in the Bill that we shouldn’t forget: that we will have that power. Can I ask the First Minister, would it give us the power to enable local authorities to have votes for 16 and 17-year-olds? So, I also wondered if the First Minister could answer that question.

On the policing issue, I think it’s very disappointing that there’s been no movement on the policing issue and I would ask the First Minister to do everything within his power during the negotiating period for this Bill to try to change the minds of the Westminster Government because it is inexplicable, especially in view of the fact that all of the other devolved bodies have had it devolved.

Finally, I wondered if he could address the issue of youth justice. As I understand it at the moment, the Welsh Government is responsible for youth justice services, but not the youth justice system, which I think is very confusing and is something that could, presumably, be clarified quite simply. Is it possible to do that in the negotiations over this Bill?