Oral Answers to Questions

Elfyn Llwyd Excerpts

Wednesday 27th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

Yes, indeed—particularly as Wrexham is currently top of the Blue Square league.

[Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

6. What discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government who have partial responsibility for justice and law and order.

[The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones)]

I have meetings with Ministers in the Welsh Government on a wide range of issues, including justice and law and order, although they are of course not devolved.

[Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

I will wish the Secretary of State a happy St David’s day on St David’s day and not today.

There is an all-Wales legal circuit, four excellent police forces and an all-Wales probation trust. It is high time that we devolved justice and policing to Wales. The Secretary of State will know that there is a huge clamour of enthusiasm for this move. I hope he will join it.

[Mr Jones]

I understand that Plaid Cymru has made its submission to the Silk commission, which will no doubt consider those proposals. It will report in spring next year. The Government have shown our commitment to devolution of policing by creating the office of police and crime commissioner, which brings policing as close as possible to the policed public.

[Mr Llwyd]

I heartily disagree with the Secretary of State on that—police and crime commissioners are nothing of the sort—but the obvious point is that laws in Wales are diverging naturally from those in England, including in administrative law, family law and criminal law. It is high time that the legislature in Wales had its own system. Otherwise, it will probably be the only legislature in the world without such a system.

[Mr Jones]

I hear the right hon. Gentleman’s point. No doubt the Silk commission will hear it too, and will take it into account when deciding whether the matter should be taken forward.