COMMENTING on a proposal by the Welsh Assembly Government for a new Welsh honours system, Shadow Culture Minister and Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies said:

"I am delighted that yet again the Assembly Government is coming around to our way of thinking.

"This is not the first time ministers have adopted Welsh Conservative policies and tried to pass them off as their own.

"Excellence in public service deserves official recognition, as does achievement in sport, culture, the Arts and science.

"We have long argued that people who dedicate their time to helping others in Wales should be rewarded in an appropriate way with a specific Welsh honour.

"Introducing such a scheme - to run alongside the British honours system - would seem an appropriate way to celebrate achievements made by the people of Wales while also underlining the importance of our Union with the rest of the United Kingdom."