The Secretary of State for Wales (Mrs Cheryl Gillan)
The coalition’s programme for government includes a commitment to
“establish a process similar to the Calman Commission for the Welsh Assembly”
and the Government’s proposals are now taking shape. I am pleased to inform the House of our plans so far.
A key strength of the Calman Commission was its consensual approach, and the Government are committed to establish a similar approach in Wales. With this in mind we have worked with the Welsh Government and all parties in the Assembly to reach a broad consensus on how we move forward.
An independent commission will be established in the autumn to look at the financial accountability of the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales. The commission will examine issues of fiscal devolution and accountability in Wales and will focus on building consensus. It will take into consideration the work of the Holtham commission and will make every effort to report on its recommendations in the autumn of 2012.
After the commission has reported and the Government have considered its proposals, the commission will look at the constitutional settlement in Wales in the light of experience. The commission will aim to report its findings in 2013.
Work will continue between the UK Government and the Welsh Government over the summer, and I will look to make further announcements on the process after recess.
The Government are committed to considering all aspects of the Holtham commission’s reports. Separate discussions will continue between the UK Government and the Welsh Government on Holtham’s proposals for funding reform for Wales and they will be extended to include the operation of existing borrowing powers.