During this week’s Deputy Prime Minister Questions, Brecon and Radnorshire’s Welsh Liberal Democrat Roger Williams MP asked the Deputy Prime Minister for an update on the UK Government’s plans to implement the cross-party Silk Commission’s recommendations for new powers for the Assembly in the House of Commons.
During Deputy Prime Minister Questions Roger Williams asked:
“Will the Deputy Prime Minister update us on introducing legislation to implement the Silk commission recommendations, which have all-party support in the National Assembly for Wales but seem to lack wholehearted support from Her Majesty’s Opposition in Westminster?”
The Deputy Prime Minister responded saying:
“I agree with my hon. Friend that Opposition Members have a very ambivalent attitude towards further devolution to Wales, but on the Government Benches we are unambiguous in our support for following up the Silk commission and translating it into legislation. That is why we published the draft Bill, which is subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Welsh Affairs Committee right now. I cannot pre-empt the Queen’s Speech, but I hope he will be in no doubt about our determination to translate the Silk report into action.”
Commenting, Roger Williams MP said:
“I welcome the Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment to Silk and am glad that the Liberal Democrats in Government are dedicated to implementing the Silk commission recommendations in to legislation. The Liberal Democrats have consistently supported greater financial powers for the National Assembly.
“It is a shame that despite there being all-party support in the National Assembly there seems to lack wholehearted support by the Labour opposition in Westminster.”
