Promise On Fast Progress To Devolution

But he promised critics in the Commons, less than 24 hours after publishing the Referendums Bill paving the way for a Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly, that the proposals would receive "fair and proper" scrutiny.

In resumed debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Dewar assured MPs there would be plenty of time for debate but insisted the case for change was now widely recognised.

"The reform is based firmly within the United Kingdom. The idea is that we strengthen the Union if we show that it can adapt to the needs and accommodate the wishes of peoples in various parts of the UK," he said.

"There is a need for change and that is widely recognised. We are asking Parliament to pass power for the better governance of the country to a parliament in Scotland and an assembly in Wales," added Mr Dewar.

Labour's determination to honour its pledge on devolution was underlined by the decision to publish the Bill yesterday and bring it forward for second reading in the Commons next week, at the head of the new Government's legislative programme.

The party's leadership has warned potential rebel MPs and party members they face disciplinary action if they publicly campaign against the proposals ahead of September's referendums.

For the Opposition, the Tory leadership contender, William Hague, challenged Labour's devolution plans.

"You are proposing an additional, expensive tier of government which will do no favours to Scotland and Wales and will make a nonsense of some of the functions of this House," said Mr Hague, the Shadow Welsh Secretary.

"It is our contention that these proposals would amount to a fundamental and far-reaching error, that they would damage the interests of Scotland and Wales, lead to widespread disillusionment and bitterness, create a constitutional situation unstable and unsustainable in the future and that they would severely weaken and undermine the unity of the United Kingdom itself," he said.

Mr Hague said it would be wrong for the Labour Party to try to gag its backbenchers opposed to devolution.

"We are not talking here about members of the Government, bound by collective responsibility," he said. "We are talking about backbenchers with a clear record of speaking out on this matter, with long-held and clearly expressed views."

Mr Hague said the Welsh Secretary, under the Government's plans, would be "a political eunuch, an ornament of doubtful constitutional value rather than a functioning member of the body politic".

"While the concept of holding these referendums is a good one and the mandate for holding them is clear, the time and manner of these proposed referendums represents yet another constitutional innovation by this Government and again it is a deeply disturbing one," he insisted.