The UK government remains flatly opposed to giving Wales full control of justice, the Ministry of Justice has suggested – despite an independent commission on the constitutional future of Wales recommending devolution.
In a report published last month, the commission recommended Westminster agree to the legislative and executive devolution of responsibility for justice and policing to the Senedd and Welsh government. Both governments would agree a timescale and the journey towards full devolution would begin with policing, probation and youth justice.
The commission said the England and Wales justice system faced major funding and leadership challenges ‘and in tackling these Wales will always be a relatively low priority for the UK government’.
Yesterday, the Labour MP for Cynon Valley, Beth Winter, asked ministers during justice questions in the House of Commons if they would make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving justice to Wales. Winter said it was the policy of the Welsh government and Welsh Labour party to support the devolution of the justice system.
Justice minister Mike Freer replied: ‘The government are clear that it is in the best interests of the people of Wales for justice to remain a reserved matter. The current arrangement works well and allows Wales to benefit from being part of a larger, world-renowned justice system. Devolving justice to Wales would mean losing those benefits and would be extremely expensive and complex, requiring the duplication of functions.’
Freer was ‘more than happy’ to meet the Welsh government ‘to explain why Wales being part of the English and Welsh legal system remains the preferred option for this government’.
He added: ‘Why would Wales want to leave the most successful legal services system in the world?’
