Yesterday’s Western Mail reports that Tory MP, David Davies, who has taken over as Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee has discussed the possibility of investigating the Assembly Government’s delivery of major public services:
Media reports in Scotland have suggested the committee is to link up with its counterparts covering Scotland and Northern Ireland to carry out joint inquiries into service delivery by the devolved administrations.
Mr Davies confirmed he had discussed the matter with Ian Davidson, the Labour chairman of the Scottish Affairs Committee.
He said: “What’s happened is that, quite naturally, I’ve had discussions with Ian Davidson and Laurence Robertson [chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee]. Ian has been quite keen on the three committees meeting jointly on occasions and perhaps jointly looking at certain issues. But there have been no formal discussions. I haven’t said yes or no – it’s not in my power to do so, it’s up to the committee.
“It’s something we may do – I don’t have a strong view one way or the other about it… I don’t see that is going to be an immediate priority for us. It might raise hackles – we’re not worried about people’s hackles being raised, and I don’t think it would be completely inappropriate if it was properly done. What I can say is that there has been the broadest discussion with Ian about doing things of mutual interest in the future, and that’s all.”
He also suggested that the Committee will look at the referendum on full law-making powers in Wales, matters that are the preserve of the Electoral Commission and the Secretary of State for Wales and admits that he got it wrong on the move to introduce family-friendly hours in the Welsh Assembly – a measure which has only been partially successful but at least mostly prevents scenes like this happening in Cardiff Bay.
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Smacks of the sort of interference from the centre which I thought the coalition was moving away from.
I agree but this is not the Coalition, it is the independent Welsh Affairs Select Committee consisting of members from al parties.
In this case should a commitee of MEPs scrutinise Westminster. We are geing treated like children who need supervising. The Assembly is a legislative body (with limited powers yes) not a school council.
I hope that the days of the Welsh Select and Grand Committees are numbered.