Carwyn shows us how to avoid answering a question

CARWYN JONES was playing hard to get in his first press briefing as First Minister, writes Clive  Betts from the Assembly press gallery.

The big question to which everyone wants the answer is what is going to happen about the so-essential extension of Assembly powers so the political union with England is not eventually wrecked on the rocks of Labour’s constitutional non-settlement.

Mr Jones got as far as letting us know that the expected Assembly debate on the Jones-Parry Convention report on how to proceed towards gaining those extra powers will be held on February 9.

But, former practising barrister that he is, he managed to tell us hardly a word beyond the fact that a “motion” will be laid in front of the Assembly, despite the best efforts of us journalists.

Mr Jones did admit that the motion will be a touch stronger than that the Assembly merely “notes” the report. A motion to “note” would tell us nothing beyond that the report in question has been received and has not been rejected.

What we really wanted to know is what the Assembly planned to do next; in particular, would the Assembly government be planning to ask London for permission to hold a referendum on giving the so-essential extra powers to Cardiff ?

And what would be the preferred date for that referendum ? This autumn is the preferred date as it is said to be the only time when a referendum could be held so that the political agreement between Labour and Plaid on its holding before the next Assembly election in 2011 is kept to.

Mr Jones admitted some of the problems – for instance, that a very solid majority in Cardiff in favour of a referendum is essential. He would hold talks with the other parties to try to ensure that.  Not that there should be much trouble as the Tory group is happy to go along with holding a referendum.

And Nick Bourne, Tory leader, told us later that he wouldn’t mind taking a part (which would surely have to be prominent) in the Yes campaign – although he couldn’t speak for the rest of his group.

But what would be the wording of the motion ?

Ieuan Wyn Jones, his Plaid deputy, sitting beside the Prime Minister (at least, that’s what he’s called in Welsh), came closest to telling us what Mr Jones’s  telling us nothing really meant. “The debate on February 9 will keep all options open,” said the other Mr Jones.

With a barrister as First Minister, one can imagine how “wide” those options could turn out.

So members of the press tried harder to tie him down. What were the views of Secretary of State and Neath MP Peter Hain on this ?  “It is important to keep all options open,” was the reply here.

And what about the views of devolution-sceptic Labour MPs in east Wales ?

Well, Mr Jones didn’t win the majority votes of Welsh Labour MPs bythreatening to  rat on some of their more unpalatable views to the press. So, we got nothing.

All we really got from the First Minister is his view that a request for a referendum will have to go to a post-election Westminster. In other words – although of course he never said as much – to a Tory government. There was no time for all the necessary work to be completed before Westminster goes off to fight the election.

Fortunately, we already have a promise from David Cameron that he will not hinder the holding of any referendum. So, that’s one worry out of the way.