Church makes case for further devolution

The Presbyterian Church of Wales has presented evidence to the All Wales Convention supporting further devolution.

The Convention is visiting local authorities across Wales in 2009 to hear from members of public about their views on the law-making powers of the Welsh National Assembly.

Mervyn Philips and the Rev Glyn Tudwal Jones, from the Church and Society Department of the Presbyterian Church in Wales, told the convention on Thursday that they wanted to see the legislative process speeded up and matters relating to the governance of Wales dealt with in Wales.

Speaking ahead of their meeting with Convention officials, Mr Phillips said: “We’ve spoken out in favour of devolved powers for a long time because it’s important that there is political recognition of Welsh identity, community and history. We believe this is a matter for the Christian church because we’re concerned about the poor, the vulnerable, the unemployed and with how people live together.

“Politics is all about authority over individual lives, and our view is that a significant devolved government gives added checks and balances to support individual liberties and human rights. But in the last resort, of course, this is subject to divine mercy and judgment.”

Rev Jones said the present system of governance, based on legislative competency orders, was “clumsy” and “time-consuming”.

“We’d like to see more direct means of governing and for whole policy areas to be devolved,” he said.

The Church has previously submitted a written statement in favour of holding a referendum on whether the Welsh Assembly should be given full law-making powers.

Rev Jones added: “The referendum question is also important – timing is essential because devolution is low on the public agenda at the moment, which is wholly understandable, given the recession.”