WELSH Tories repeated their opposition today to an order that would devolve powers over council tenants' right to buy their homes.

During heated exchanges in the Senedd, Conservative AMs argued against a so-called legislative competence order (LCO) that would give ministers power over the right to buy.

The Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition administration has pledged to seek powers to suspend buying rights in areas with shortages of affordable homes.

A previous LCO - a means of transferring law-making powers from Parliament - was dropped last year after wrangling with Westminster.

Ministers fear opposition to the latest bid from the Conservatives will stop it getting through the legislative wash-up in Westminster before the general election.

The order would also devolve other powers, including control over council tax on holiday homes.

Opening the Senedd debate, Plaid's deputy housing minister Jocelyn Davies pointed out all AMs - including the Conservatives - recently called for a referendum to give the Assembly full law-making powers.

A "yes’’ vote in that referendum would transfer even wider powers than those sought by the LCO, she said.

"There can therefore be no intellectual argument which can logically lead you to genuinely support a 'yes' campaign, but to oppose this order,’’ Ms Davies said.

"Therefore I ask you to approve this draft order so we can proceed for consideration at Parliament.’’ Tory housing spokesman Mark Isherwood said LCOs had become "statements of intent’’ and "blueprints for legislation’’ instead of the "blank sheet’’ that a referendum would allow.

"We fully support many elements within this legislative competence order which can have a real impact on tackling the housing crisis in Wales,’’ he said.

"But we cannot support those elements which can make no difference whatsoever and which can only have been included in order to appease the misplaced dogma of a few.

"Had the deputy minister removed the meaningless and, for us, incendiary reference to right to buy from this order we would have been able to support it.’’ John Puzey, director of housing charity Shelter Cymru, said: "There has long been widespread consensus among the Welsh housing and homelessness sectors about the need for greater, more consistent powers to be devolved to Wales.

"If the LCO fell at this late stage, it would be a huge blow for homeless and vulnerable people in Wales.

"We need the powers to ensure that we can provide better services for people who are homeless or threatened with losing their homes.’’