The Silk Commission has recommended the UK Government to gradually transfer new powers to Welsh institutions of self-government, including policing and a part of the judicial system. Commission Chairman Paul Silk said transfers should be made within 10 years and that his proposal "will provide a stable and well-founded devolution settlement".

The Commission was established in 2011 by the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, in order to analyze whether it was necessary to expand Welsh self-government. Being made up by seven experts (four of them are representatives of Welsh National Assembly parties), the group was to advise the UK Government on two different packages: on the one hand, transfer of fiscal and economic powers to Welsh institutions; on the other, the transfer of non-economic powers. Today's report regards the second block of powers.

On the first block, the Commission suggested by the end of 2013 that several taxes be transferred to Wales, together with borrowing powers for the Welsh Government. One of the taxes that could be transferred is the income tax, but a referendum should be held first so that Welsh citizens decide whether they want it to happen.

Plaid Cymru disappointed

Main Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru has reacted to the Silk report by saying that it does not signal "real progress on securing more meaningful powers for Wales". The party has criticised the fact that the report does not accept the creation of a "Welsh legal jurisdiction". Plaid further has called for all powers over broadcasting, energy and justice to be transferred.

Plaid has nevertheless welcomed that the Commission had admitted that transferring policing powers to Welsh institutions was needed.

Welsh Prime Minister very satisfied

Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones (Labour) has welcomed the contents of the Silk Commission report. Jones has said that the report depicts a new agreement between the UK and Wales based on a "reserved powers model". This means that, at the end of the process of power transfers, competencies kept byy the UK will only be those specified by law. A similar model is now applied in Scotland, however this does not necessarily mean that all the powers which are now held by the Scottish institutions must also be held by Wales.

According to a recent BBC survey, 37% of Welsh want more autonomy, while 5% wish independence. 28% consider that current powers are enough. 3% would like to see less powers in the hands of Welsh institutions, while 23% say Welsh National Assembly should be abolished. 4% has no opinion.

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