National Assembly name change to Welsh Parliament call

A call for the National Assembly to be renamed the Welsh Parliament has been made by Conservative leader in the assembly Andrew RT Davies.

Mr Davies said it was time to change the name in recognition of the primary law making powers it was granted in a 2011 referendum.

The Welsh word used for the assembly building is Senedd, which translates into English as "parliament".

But the Wales Office indicated that the move was "not a priority".

A spokesman for the Wales Office said any change in the name of the National Assembly would require changes to primary legislation.

Mr Davies, leader of the Conservative group in the National Assembly, the second largest party to Labour, describes himself as a "proud unionist".

He said his suggestion had nothing to do with any greater separation between Wales and the rest of the UK.

He said the move, which he claims would require only a small amendment in existing legislation to be in place by 2016, would be "a statement about the institution which now legislates for our great nation".

Mr Davies, the South Wales Central AM, said: "By voting for full law-making powers last year the people of Wales made their National Assembly a parliament in all but name.

"It's now time to reward their faith in our institution and acknowledge that where laws are made - the title of a parliament should exist. This is a common-sense move.

"It would provide far greater clarity over the distinction between the assembly - as it is currently named - and the Welsh government, and it would give our devolved institution its rightful place alongside other national legislatures.

"As we drive forward it is crucially important that we embrace what we now have. Put simply - a parliament."

Slow and cumbersome

He added that no expensive rebrand, new building or more politicians were required, but the name change would be simple recognition of the maturity of the devolution process.

"Some may say this is just a name change. I say there is a lot in a name," Mr Davies said.

The National Assembly was established in 1999, but until 2007 could not pass any primary legislation.

Between 2007 and 2011 it had to seek powers to pass laws from Westminster on a piecemeal basis, a process described by many as slow and cumbersome.

Since May 2011, it has been able to pass legislation in 20 devolved fields such as health, education and agriculture without reference to Westminster.

Asked whether he had discussed his call with the Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan, Mr Davies would only say that the pair "held discussions all the time".

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "This is a very interesting idea and certainly deserves further consideration. However, we do need to know the views of the Secretary of State for Wales on this matter."

Meanwhile, the Assembly's Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler said: "Terminology is important and there were undoubtedly difficulties in the early years of devolution in distinguishing in the public's mind between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

"Unfortunately changing its name is not something that is within the assembly's gift. It could be done only through legislation in Westminster.

"What matters to me is ensuring that the assembly continues to act as a fully-fledged parliamentary body, namely, by holding the Welsh government to account, making the best possible laws for Wales and representing Wales and its people."