The prospect of MPs and Welsh assembly members holding joint debates has moved a step closer with the publication of a new report from the Commons procedure committee.

The committee concluded that select committees from Westminster and Cardiff should be empowered to hold joint meetings.

And the Commons Welsh grand committee should be able to hold joint debates with members of the assembly.

It is hoped that the move would be particularly useful in improving the scrutiny of Wales-only bills that have an impact on the responsibilities and policies of the devolved assembly.

"The committee has a particular wish to avoid duplication in pre-legislative scrutiny of draft bills relating to Wales by conducting such scrutiny jointly with the relevant national assembly committee," said the report.

With more draft legislation affecting Wales expected shortly, the procedure committee added that "there is an immediate need for a decision about joint pre-legislative scrutiny".

With different rules and legislation governing the functioning of the Commons and the assembly, the report recommended a "reciprocal enlargement" which would see AMs invited to take part in House of Commons proceedings or vice versa.

Defamation

Such activities would count as proceedings of the host body, chaired by one of its members and governed by its rules.

The Bill of Rights protects debates and proceedings in parliament from any challenge by the courts, whereas the Government of Wales Act 1998 protects statements in the National Assembly only against actions for defamation and not, for example, against claims under human rights legislation.

"Assuming that members of this House would be comfortable in speaking in the marginally less protective arena of the national assembly, we conclude that, without recourse to further legislation, the House could alter its rules to allow members of the national assembly to take part in its proceedings and the national assembly could make reciprocal arrangements," said the report.

And addressing a sensitive issue, it was recommended that Commons rules relating to the use of the Welsh language "should be relaxed for such joint meetings, so that all participants could use either English or Welsh at will, with interpretation being provided".

"We wish to give further consideration to the general desirability of formal joint meetings, but believe that the expected arrival of a draft bill applying to Wales indicates a suitable limited experiment," said the report.

"We therefore recommend that, until the end of the current parliament, the Welsh affairs committee should be authorised to invite members of any specified committee of the National Assembly for Wales to attend and take part in its proceedings (but not to vote), with the arrangements for the use of Welsh as suggested by the working group."