CHANGES to Wales' electoral system have been announced by the Queen.

Her Majesty today announced the UK Government was looking to press ahead with the Wales Draft Bill.

It proposes to allow candidates in Welsh Assembly Elections from standing in both a constituency and on a regional list. Under current rules, prospective AMs must choose one or the other.

The bill also aims to move the Assembly from four to five-year fixed terms. This is to reduce the likelihood of elections to the Assembly and the UK parliament taking place at the same time.

And if implemented in its current form, the legislation would also ban AMs from also being an MP at the same time.

The Electoral Reform Society Wales welcomed the news.

Director Steve Brooks said: "By publishing the Bill in draft form, there's now an opportunity for a cross-party debate on how Welsh democracy can be strengthened.

"The ban on dual candidacy should never have been introduced. Wales is thought to be the only nation in the world other than the Ukraine to impose such a restriction.’’ The Wales Draft Bill was among the pieces of planned legislation delivered by the Queen in the House of Commons today.

On a UK-level, one of the biggest announcements was the planned Immigration Bill. It is designed to stop "immigrants accessing services they are not entitled to’’.

Other measures which could affect Wales include extra powers for police, state aid to help working parents with childcare costs and reform of the pensions system.

But news that the dual-candidacy in Assembly elections could be reinstated prompted a mixed reaction.

Of the 60 AMs, 40 represent constituency seats and 20 are elected from five regional lists.

When the assembly first came into being in 1999, candidates could stand in either field - but it was later banned by the then UK Labour government in 2007.

During the last assembly election in 2011, the change led to a high-profile scalp for the Welsh Conservatives.

Their leader Nick Bourne lost his regional seat after his party made a constituency gain.

Shadow Welsh secretary and Labour MP Owen Smith said he felt underwhelmed by the contents of the Queen's speech.

He said: "Three years into this Tory-led Government, we finally get the first piece of Wales Office legislation.

"It could have been a Bill to restore the capital budget and deliver investment in infrastructure.

"Instead we get a 'Lucky Losers Bill', which helps candidates from minor parties get into the National Assembly via the back door.

"This Bill is entirely self-serving, designed only to increase the Conservatives' meagre chances of winning seats in the next Assembly elections.

"They know they can't win first-past-the-post seats in vast swathes of Wales, so they are changing the electoral system to help them boost their numbers.’’ Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd welcomed the electoral system proposals, but described the Queen's Speech as disappointing.

"Once again, we are reminded that Wales remains far down Westminster's list of priorities,’’ he added.However, Welsh Secretary and Tory MP David Jones begged to differ.

He said: "Many of the measures announced today will do a lot to help businesses in Wales and will boost the Welsh economy.

"Specifically, the National Insurance Contributions Bill will help many small and medium size Welsh businesses by cutting the cost of recruiting new employees, while the Deregulation Bill will cut red tape to help Welsh businesses grow.’’ First Minister Carwyn Jones said he believed Wales' electoral arrangements should be dealt with by Assembly Members.