The Chair of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, Huw Irranca-Davies AM, has expressed serious concern that the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns MP, has declined an invitation to give evidence to the Committee on the UK Government’s Wales Bill.
“The Wales Bill will have long term implications for the quality of law that can be made by the Assembly and how easy it is for Welsh citizens to understand the laws to which they are subject.
“While it is clear that there have been some improvements since the draft Wales Bill was published, we have already heard that the new Bill retains complexity and could take the current devolution settlement backwards.
“Given the fact that the Committee stage of the House of Commons’ consideration of the Bill is to conclude by 11 July, the committee had hoped that the Secretary of State would be able to shed some light on the new Bill and help us understand what he is seeking to achieve.”
The Committee would like to hear the views of as many people as possible from across Welsh society to help with its consideration of the Bill.
The Committee will be taking evidence from the First Minister and Presiding Officer on Monday and Wednesday next week. It has already taken evidence from constitutional experts and lawyers.
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