皇冠体育app

鈥淐larity and accountability鈥� at the heart of the Wales Bill, says Alun Cairns

鈥淐larity and accountability鈥� are the two guiding principles of the new Wales Bill, Alun Cairns told MPs as the Commons began its second reading of the legislation.

皇冠体育app Secretary of State for Wales said the new reserved powers model of devolution clearly established which powers were reserved and which were devolved.

鈥淚t will end the squabbles over powers between Cardiff Bay and Westminster, enabling the Welsh Government to get on with the job of improving the economy, securing jobs and improving devolved public services,鈥� Mr Cairns said.

皇冠体育app introduction of Welsh rates of income tax ensured accountability was at the heart of the Bill, the Secretary of State told the Commons.

It will make the Welsh Government accountable to people in Wales for raising more of the money it spends.

We committed to put in place a clearer, stronger and fairer devolution settlement for Wales, and that is exactly what this Bill does.

皇冠体育app Secretary of State said the Bill gave the Assembly powers over areas including

• Speed limits
• Regulation of taxis and buses
• Ports
• Fracking
• Planning consent over most energy projects
• Elections and Assembly processes

MPs were told that, for the first time, the Bill enshrined the Assembly and Welsh Government as 鈥減ermanent parts of the UK鈥檚 constitutional fabric鈥�.

皇冠体育app Assembly no longer had to undergo a 鈥渘ecessity test鈥� when changing civil and criminal law for devolved purposes, Mr Cairns said.

He also said the legislation recognised for the first time that 鈥渢here is a body of Welsh law made by the Assembly and the Welsh ministers, forming part of the law of England and Wales.鈥� A working group was now looking at the distinct arrangements for Welsh law, the Secretary of State added.

皇冠体育app Wales Bill included a 鈥渉istoric transfer of powers to the Assembly and Welsh Government鈥�.

鈥淚t further enables the Welsh Government to deliver on the things that matter to people living and working in Wales, and to be held to account for their decisions and policies.鈥�

皇冠体育app Wales Bill is expected to complete its passage through the Houses of Parliament before April 2017.