Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts
Wednesday 18th November 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb
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I fear that if we were to withdraw the Bill, we would see no progress whatsoever on strengthening and clarifying Welsh devolution, which I understood Plaid Cymru and the Labour party supported.

Michael Fabricant Portrait Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)
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When I raised this issue before the general election, a previous Secretary of State for Wales said that I was wrong. Will the present Welsh Secretary say that if the Welsh people would like a Welsh Parliament, rather than a Welsh Assembly, they will be able to have one?

Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb
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To paraphrase the famous old man of Pencader, it will be the Welsh people ultimately who determine the direction and pace of Welsh devolution. The draft Wales Bill will give powers to the Welsh Assembly to call itself a Parliament and take on more law-making responsibilities.