A WESTMINSTER report has questioned whether a dedicated secretary of state for Wales is needed.

The report by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has called for "a systematic review" of the relationship of Whitehall to the devolved nations - including reviewing whether dedicated secretaries of state "are still necessary". Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns is currently Welsh secretary.

The committee, which includes two former Conservative Welsh secretaries - David Jones and Cheryl Gillan - said it was "highly regrettable" the devolved governments had been given little say in the development of the EU Withdrawal Bill and said far more should be done to "improve knowledge and understanding of devolution" in Whitehall.

Earlier this year both the Welsh and Scottish Governments passed so-called Continuity Bills which would have kept EU law over devolved areas in place post-Brexit. But the Welsh Government scrapped its bill following an agreement with Westminster. The Scottish Government's bill has been referred to the Supreme Court.

Chairman Sir Bernard Jenkin said: "Leaving the EU will change the UK's constitutional arrangements, so it needs a re-think.

"We recommend the government sets out a clear devolution policy for the union as we leave the EU.

"Failure to do this just prolongs misunderstandings which are the basis for more conflict.

"The present machinery for developing inter-governmental relations is flimsy, and there is nothing to give the various parts of England a say. Ignoring this risks the future relations within the UK.

"We set out a path to reconciling differences and building strong relationships across the UK, which recognises that many parts of England have more in common with parts of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland than they do with London and the south east."

A UK Government spokeswoman said: “We are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom and have been absolutely clear that when devolved powers are returned from Brussels, the vast majority will go straight to the devolved administrations.

“For the past year, we have been focused on constructively engaging with the devolved administrations and continue to have regular meetings with them, held at all levels, including the Joint Ministerial Committees and Ministerial Forums.

"All sides have committed to continuing to work together, including building common frameworks so that UK businesses won’t face a cliff edge on the day we leave the EU.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “This report supports many aspects of the Welsh Government’s vision on the future of the UK.

“Since long before the Brexit referendum, the first minister has been calling for a fundamental change in the constitutional relationship between the devolved governments and the UK Government based on mutual respect, reaching agreement through consent to strengthen the union.

"Brexit means we need this change more than ever before."

View the report at tinyurl.com/y93a5amo