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Devolution process should be overhauled, says All Wales Convention

Proposals to transfer powers from Westminster to the Welsh Assembly all at once offer “substantial advantage” over the current arrangements where powers are transferred step by step, a report by the All Wales Convention has found.

“Transferring powers all at once would offer greater efficiency, permit a more strategic approach to the drafting of legislation, provide greater clarity and be more consistent with the rule of law and democratic tradition,” the Convention said.

To come into effect, the all-at-once option would need a ‘yes’ vote in a referendum. Research for the Convention – set up by the Labour party and Plaid Cymru to gauge support for further devolution – suggests that 47% would vote in favour, while 37% would be against such a move.

The report’s other recommendations include the creation of a one-stop-shop allowing lawyers and the public to access an up-to-date record of the law that applies in Wales. The Convention also calls for the bureaucratic load on local authorities in Wales to be reduced.

Welsh Assembly chair Sir Emyr Jones Parry said: “What we found was that the current arrangements for giving the National Assembly for Wales law-making powers through Legislative Competence Orders were seen as cumbersome and slow. The parallel route for giving the National Assembly powers through framework provisions in UK Parliamentary Bills was (also) seen to be problematic.

“Having the powers all at once offers distinct advantages and can only be obtained through a 'yes' vote in a referendum. If that happened, it would give particular legitimacy to the National Assembly for Wales.”

Sir Emyr said a decision on whether or not to call a referendum should be taken “ideally by no later than June 2010”.