The referendum on whether the Welsh assembly should gain more powers seems almost certain to be on Thursday, 3 March next year.

That is the preferred date put forward by the Welsh Assembly Government to Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan.

She is expected to agree that voters will go to the polls on that day for the third Welsh devolution referendum in 32 years, after 1979 and 1997.

The assembly government says it is awaiting Mrs Gillan's formal response.

In a statement, the assembly government said Mrs Gillan "had previously announced her willingness to hold the referendum before the end of the first quarter of 2011," and invited it to suggest "to suggest an appropriate date".

First Minister Carwyn Jones and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones have also met the leaders of the opposition parties in the assembly "to take on board their views".

It has been widely expected that the referendum will be in March.

That will mean it will be held two months before Wales again goes to the polls for the assembly election on 5 May.

Another referendum is also expected to be held on 5 May, when electors across the UK are likely to vote on whether to change the voting system. That is also the same day as elections for the Scottish Parlament and English local councils.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-11382649