A new law which will give Wales further powers has been backed by MPs.
After its third reading in the House of Commons on Monday, September 12, the Wales Bill will now go to the Lords for consideration.
The Bill will give new powers to the National Assembly over energy, transport and its own elections.
It will also fundamentally change the nature of the devolution settlement with a move to a reserved powers model.
This lists the policy areas that the UK Parliament still has responsibility for, with everything else devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns MP said the new law would give Wales a devolution settlement that was “clearer, fairer and stronger and delivers powers for a purpose”.
The Welsh Government, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats said the Bill did not go far enough.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Cairns said: “It delivers a historic package of powers to the National Assembly that will transform it into a fully fledged Welsh legislature, affirmed as a permanent part of the United Kingdom’s constitutional fabric, enhancing and clarifying the considerable powers it currently has. The Assembly is accountable to the people of Wales, with powers over taxes that will make it responsible not only for how money is spent in Wales, but for how it is raised.
“The Bill devolves further powers that will enable the Welsh Government to make a real difference on the things that matter to the people of Wales.
“The Assembly will be able to decide on, for example, the planning regime for major strategic energy projects, and whether fracking should take place.
“The Bill introduces a reserved powers model that addresses the glaring deficiencies in the current settlement and establishes a clear line between those subjects that are devolved to the Assembly and those that are the responsibility of the UK Parliament.”
Labour’s Shadow Welsh Secretary Paul Flynn MP said the Bill was not an ending or a full stop to devolution.
He said: “We would like to go full speed ahead with the development of a separate Welsh Government with at least the powers of Scotland.
“That is not possible because there is a drag anchor coming from the Conservative Party.
“I wish they would pull their anchor up and let the good ship Welsh Assembly sail free into clear waters.”