Devolution in Wales: the Silk Commission

On 11 October 2011 the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, announced a new Commission on Devolution in Wales. This will look at the case for devolving fiscal powers, and will review the powers of the National Assembly for Wales in general, recommending modifications to improve the present constitutional arrangements. The Commission will aim to report on fiscal powers in autumn 2012, and on constitutional matters by spring 2014. It is led by Paul Silk, former Clerk to the National Assembly for Wales.

This note reproduces the terms of reference for the Commission, and puts them in the context of the Holtham Commission on funding reform in Wales, the fiscal changes proposed for Scotland in the Scotland Bill, and the changes made to the powers of the National Assembly for Wales in May 2011.