Labour MP: devolution is not a devolved responsibility

Now here's an item that should be of interest to the handful of voters who showed up in Abertillery last month to talk about Wales's constitutional future.

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, who has responsibility for constitutional issues within the UK government, has been answering questions in the House of Commons: among the MPs asking questions, Rhondda Labour MP Chris Bryant.

"Some people in Wales are apparently in favour of devolving crime, policing and the justice system to the Welsh Assembly," announced Mr Bryant. Who could he mean? Here's a clue.

For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Bryant is not among those in favour of devolving those powers. He told Mr Clegg: "I am wholeheartedly opposed to that. Will the deputy prime minister confirm that devolution is not a devolved responsibility?"

Nick Clegg didn't need to be asked twice to exploit this public offering of Labour differences over devolution.

"It is no surprise to me to learn that the Labour party, once again, is somewhat forked-tongued in its commitment to further devolution to Wales: in Cardiff it talks a good game about further devolution of powers from London to Cardiff, yet here it continues to want to hoard powers.

"As you know, the Silk commission is in two parts, the first of which, on further fiscal powers, has already reported. We are determined to respond soon enough to that report, which was made on a cross-party basis. The second part of the Silk commission looks at the wider constitutional settlement, and it has not yet been completed."

That may or may not have answered the question (you can read the exchanges here), but it did update MPs - sort of - on the UK government's timetable. Mr Clegg has previously promised to deliver "before the spring of this year", although he meant to say before the end of spring.

The end of spring is now nigh. Even in London, the sun is shining. The UK government has just 15 days to deliver on Mr Clegg's timetable before the summer solstice.