Labour is split over lawmaking, says Gillan

Mar 24 2008 by Martin Shipton, Western Mail

SHADOW Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has alleged that a government refusal to publish a series of letters between Rhodri Morgan and Peter Hain indicates a major split between Cardiff Bay and Westminster over the new system of lawmaking for Wales.

Earlier this month the Assembly Government rejected the Western Mail’s request for publication of seven letters between the First Minister and the former Welsh Secretary, arguing that the public interest would be substantially harmed if they were released.

Now Mr Hain’s successor Paul Murphy has refused to place the correspondence in the House of Commons library.

The letters relate to the system introduced last year under which the Assembly can seek permission from Westminster to make its own laws in defined areas. Orders granting such permission are known as LCOs (Legislative Competence Orders).

It is known there has been tension behind the scenes about the Assembly Government’s requests for LCOs, with Westminster taking the view that some are too broad. In at least one case, concerning the Assembly Government’s desire to ban the smacking of children, the proposal was rejected outright.

One exchange between Mr Morgan and Mr Hain is understood to have been of a “no holds barred” nature.

Mr Murphy has now turned down Ms Gillan’s request to place the letters in the House of Commons library, saying, “We have had frequent exchanges with both the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Assembly Government Ministers about the new legislative arrangements for Wales.

“We are committed to making this process work and will continue to have discussions with all relevant parties. To make such correspondence available in the library would restrict our ability to conduct business effectively.”

Ms Gillan said, “I am shocked by the Secretary of State’s response to my request. It is absurd to argue that revealing details of this disagreement would harm the public interest.

“We have always argued that these complicated new arrangements are not in the interests of Wales, and it is clear from the refusal to publish these letters that there is a major split between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.

“It is vitally important that this correspondence should be released so we can understand the problems affecting the new legislative system in practice.”