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A Wales Questions dominated by firsts: Cheryl Gillan's first outing as Welsh Secretary, the first female Welsh Secretary to take questions from Welsh MPs who wanted to be the first to land a blow. Here's another: a first attempt of a live-ish (ok, very 'ish' by now) blog it.

First thoughts on both sides were of condolences to the family of former Secretary of State, Lord Walker - "a good friend to the Welsh people."

Jonathan Evans (Con, Cardiff North) is first up and wishes the Wales Office team well "in the challenges that lay ahead." Tries to lay one on the First Minister, who has admitted that the proportion of jobs in the private sector in Wales is too low and doesn't success "depend on driving up private sector jobs in the Principality?"

Nice opener for David Jones: "Yes, private sector is the key to growth in Wales".

Elfyn Llwyd (pronounced Elvyn Mr Speaker - he's really not very elfin-like) thinks he's spotted an opportunity in yesterday's budget. Given the "admission" in budget that areas outside London and South East need a helping hand would the new government then "consider the idea of regionalising corporation tax according to GVA or devolving it to the Assembly ... so that needs can be met and support provided".

David Jones takes 3 seconds flat to say: no.

Why? Does he have a problem with that idea then?

2 seconds this time.

Phillip Davies (Con, Shipley): What talks have been held with the FM about the law-making powers referendum?

He adds: given so few actively voted for the National Assembly in first place, will she consider introducing a turnout threshold this time?

Cheryl Gillan is "afraid to tell the House" that she's bound by the Government of Wales Act 2006 but reminds the gentleman that there was a threshold of 40% last time round. (Was there? I didn't think there was.) So - a simple majority it will have be.

What progress on the question?

Here we go.

No work, says the Welsh Secretary, was done in the department on the question prior to the General Election but she's very pleased to tell the House that the project board has produced a question and a proceeding question that she sent it off to the Electoral Commission today.

Implication? I got the job done; Peter Hain didn't.

No, not implication, she's saying it bluntly now. We have achieved more in 10 weeks than my predecessor did in many months.

Howls of outrage from the one side. Cheers from the other.

Paul Murphy (Lab, Torfaen) calms the mood and asks whether the Secretary of State agrees there should be 40 Welsh MPs?

Niceties - Mrs Gillan always has a good word for the former, former Welsh Secretary but being polite doesn't amount to taking the question head on. "Nobody outside this House will be arguing for more highly paid politicians ... nothing will be done that will be affect Wales disproportionately".

Susan Elan Jones (Lab, Clwyd South) - asks whether the Welsh Secretary will be out pushing for a yes vote in the referendum - or will she be asking the electorate of ... Buckinghamshire for their views first? Ouch.

Woman to woman Mrs Gillan takes pride in being the first woman to do the job (cheers from her own benches) and what's more she was born and brought up in Wales (louder cheers from her own side who clearly reckon she's winning on points here). Anyway it's "singularly important that the people of Wales decide on this" so she and her Minister will be remaining neutral "which is the proper thing to do".

Cut-away to the Labour benches where heads are shaking and eyes rolling.

"I think she needs to familiarise herself with her own party" comes the riposte, who aren't absolutely united on this front either.

Another cutaway of a triumphant-looking Susan Jones laughing.

Mark Williams (Lib Dem, Ceredigion) will be "campaigning with enthusiasm" and points the finger at "the inactivity of the previous gov"

On cue: the Shadow Secretary of State gets to his feet. This is slow and very deliberate. He's choosing his words carefully here.

"Accounts given to the media have traduced the truth". He refers to a document that proves he did get on with the job of making an October referendum possible."Whatever she's been saying to media ... she must not mislead this House".

This is getting very close to the bone.

Cheryl Gillan can't comment on his document, she hasn't seen it but guess what, she has two of her own and they indicate to her than no work was done on the question prior to the General Election. (Perhaps they should have a show and tell meeting). But she's holding her ground: no work had been done on the question "and that was the FIRST question she'd asked when she walked into the department!"

Roger Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon and Radnor) - to VAT or not to VAT is not his question. That's been decided after all. "Necessary measures" were the words he chose on that one. He wants to know how open the Chancellor is to a dialogue on the future funding of Wales with Gerry Holtham?

The response is about tackling the deficit first but yes, there's a commitment too to "properly funding Wales".

Hang on, says Peter Hain again. What about the "historic agreement" he secured with the Treasury that showed just how prepared Labour were to stick up for Wales - unlike the Conservatives who talk of moving ahead on Barnet reform "pretty quickly" before the election and of moving ahead very, very slowly after it - "dumped into the long grass .. .Why not stand up for Wales like your predecessors did?"

Derision from the Tory benches.

David Jones takes this one. He puts on a lawyer's face. Having read the agreement to which Mr Hain refers, he's afraid to say it is "almost completely meaningless." The look on his face says: next?

Cross party support for the troops in Afghanistan - pride and support.

Owen Smith (Lab, Pontypridd) won't let the budget go - and its impact on Wales. How many jobs will Wales lose from the public sector during the course of this parliament?

Well done Owen, says a colleague.

Off topic, says Cheryl Gillan. What's the linkage with armed forces day?

Fair cop but not beyond you to respond I'm sure ... a polite smile from the Speaker.

She does. Yesterday's budget 'protected lowest earners'.

On to the Defence Academy in St Athan. Alun Cairns (Con, Vale of Glamorgan) lambasts "delays caused by the last administration" - "another example of .how Labour didn't stand up for Wales and didn't get on with it when in government".

Huw Irranca Davies (Lab, Ogmore) - on fire on Good Evening Wales yesterday afternoon about the impact the budget will have on Wales - asks about jobs but not public sector ones, exactly. How come Peter Hain sat on a dozen cabinet committees, watching out for the interests of Wales, while she's on just the one? And "loveable rogue ... but arch devo sceptic" is chairing the Welsh Affairs Select Committee - so who will stand up for Wales?

Cheryl Gillan is into full-throttle, school mistress, head-shaking mode.

"Dear me, dear me". Doesn't he know the procedures around committees have changed? And come off it. It's not the number of committees you sit and can boast about that people seriously care about. It's about what you deliver.

The "loveable rogue" - David Davies (Con, Monmouth) is on his feet. He's spotted a good moment to join in and isn't about to miss a chance to make a point. "People want us out and about sorting problems, not sitting on committees like those opposite!"

Wayne David (Lab, Caerphilly) next. First woman but not, apparently, the last Conservative Secretary of State representing an English constituency ... "Chesham and Amersham ... or is it Amersham and Chesham ... anyway somewhere in England". How many times has she visited Wales since her appointment?

They're loving this - and I mean the Tories. Pithy is good but what they're hearing is petty.

The Secretary of State "feels sorry" for Mr David. She's lost count of the number of times she's been to Wales - 9 or 10 already perhaps.

A sarcastic "wooooo" from Labour MPs.

"It that's the best he can do for a question at a time of such economic difficulties ..."

Benches are full now. End must be in sight.

David Hansen (Lab, Delyn) takes us back to Wales' manufacturing indsutry, especially in North Wales. Nick Smith (Lab, Blaenau Gwent) says the Future Jobs Fund - axed by the Chancellor - had done "terrific" work in his patch. Would the Minsiter like to visit?

He would. Mr Jones is "looking forward to a formal invitation".

Chris Bryant (Lab, Rhondda) is back to fighting for the defence training college in St Athan. Mrs Gillan wants to convince him she's with him all the way. The crucial review "is due to be completed in October".

Kevin Brennan (Lab, Cardiff West) wonders how many Assembly Members the new government believes there ought to be?

"That issue will be considered" says Mr Jones as Mrs Gillan moves slightly to her right .. to make way for the Prime Minister.

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