Proposed further Welsh devolution

[4] In 2022, Plaid Cymru MS Rhys ab Owen also called for the devolution of powers over the Welsh Crown Estate.

We are surrounded on three sides by water.” Liz Saville Roberts MP, leader of Plaid Cymru in Westminster, suggested that devolving these estates could “bring half a billion pounds worth of offshore wind and tidal stream potential under Welsh control.

[3] Boris Johnson said that devolution of the Crown Estate would "fragment the market, complicate existing processes and make it more difficult for Wales and the rest of the UK to move forward to net-zero”.

[12] In June 2022, Conservative MP Greg Hands said that he doesn't understand why there is support for devolving the Crown Estate to Wales.

[14] In 2023, a poll by YouGov showed that a majority of 58% of the people of Wales support the devolution of the Crown Estate compared to 19% who are opposed and 23% who don't know.

The question asked was “If there was a referendum tomorrow on the transferring of more powers to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), including control of tax and welfare, but excluding defence and foreign affairs, how would you vote?

Plaid leader Adam Price said that lack of tax powers hampers effective policy-making in Wales, particularly in responding to the cost-of-living crisis and public services crises.

[20] A report published earlier in the same week by the Senedd's Finance Committee recommended that the Welsh Government researches the risks and benefits of devolving powers to change income tax band rates and thresholds.

[32] In June 2022, the members of a new expert panel were announced for the devolution of communications and broadcasting powers to Wales as part of the co-operation agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

[33] It was revealed in November 2022 that former first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones was offered the devolution of S4C by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport at the time, Jeremy Hunt.

The chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith ("The Language Society") said that Jones should have accepted the offer and explored other means of funding, adding, “It’s been obvious for years that the Westminster Government is not interested in S4C.

"[34] UK Culture Minister Margot James said that broadcasting would remain a reserved power and is “the sort of thing which brings the union together”.

[36] The UK Government offered to devolve rail infrastructure to Wales in 2005 but the Welsh Assembly Government of the time refused the proposal, citing concerns around funding, the weakness of the Welsh civil service and possible issues arising from the levels of integration between Wales's rail infrastructure with England's.

[49] In February 2023, the Welsh Government scrapped various planned road infrastructure projects in North Wales, including a potential Third Menai Crossing.

[55] On 5 December 2022, The UK Labour party announced that if elected, they would reform the house of lords to form a Council of the Nations and Regions.

They would also devolve to the Senedd; Jobcentre plus, youth justice and probation service and access to British Regional Investment Bank.

[57] The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales proposes the following reform for this option: The Welsh Labour Party manifesto supports "far-reaching federalism" with powers equal Scotland and Northern Ireland.