{"id":66996,"date":"2016-01-28T14:50:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=a375e69e7db036737788854a8b55fc3f"},"modified":"2016-02-02T10:19:31","modified_gmt":"2016-02-02T10:19:31","slug":"press-release-lets-concentrate-on-delivery-not-powers-says-wales-office-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=66996","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Let’s concentrate on delivery not powers, says Wales Office Minister"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated:<\/em> Added translation<\/p>\n

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Welsh politics needs to move on from dated policy arguments about national differences to concentrate on delivery, Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns has said.<\/p>\n

The call came in a major speech on devolution made by Mr Cairns to a conference in Cardiff.<\/p>\n

Mr Cairns will say that as Wales embraced more accountable Government, the time had come to \u201cmove the debate in Wales onto a more mature footing\u201d.<\/p>\n

He told the audience \u201cthe focus on political engagement in Wales should be on policies, not on powers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Cairns praised the Welsh Assembly for \u201cinnovative\u201d policies like the introduction of the presumed consent system for organ donation and carrier bag charges.<\/p>\n

However, he said \u201cI want to see more of that innovation and less of policies that are different in Wales simply because responsibility for them is devolved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Cairns cited the devolution of tax powers as an example where the Welsh Government could demonstrate further innovation.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cNot only will they make the Welsh Government accountable for raising more of the money they spend rather than continuing only as a spending department, they offer the opportunity to make Wales a low-tax Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Cairns also highlighted progress on the Wales Bill, telling his Cardiff audience that:<\/p>\n