President-elect Barack Obama plans to order the closing of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay as early as his first week in office to show a break from the Bush administration's approach to the war on terror, according to two officials close to the transition. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to sign an order closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. One of the officials said it would be in keeping with Obama's campaign promise to shut down the prison through executive order, a move which was also pushed by last year's Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona. "The president-elect has repeatedly said the legal framework at Gitmo has failed to successfully and swiftly prosecute terrorists," said one of the officials close to the transition, who was not authorized to speak publicly about private deliberations. Such a move would reassure those concerned after Obama's recent public comments suggested he may not immediately shut the prison down. Watch what may delay Gitmo's closing ». "It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize and we are going to get it done, but part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom who may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication," Obama said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday when asked whether he would close the prison in his first 100 days. Obama also said he was trying to develop a process that "adheres to rule of law" but "doesn't result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up." "I think it's going to take some time and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus as we speak, to help design exactly what we need to do," Obama said. "But I don't want to be ambiguous about this. We are going to close Guantanamo and we are going to make sure that the procedures we set up are ones that abide by our Constitution," he said. The military prison at Guantanamo Bay is a major issue because for critics of the Bush administration, it has become a symbol of mismanagement and overreach in the war on terror. At his final White House press conference on Monday, President Bush was asked whether the military prison and harsh interrogation tactics have damaged America's standing in the world. iReport.com: What should Obama do first? "I strongly disagree with the assessment that our moral standing has been damaged," Bush said. "It may be damaged amongst some of the elite. But people still understand America stands for freedom; that America is a country that provides such great hope."

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President-elect Barack Obama plans to sign order closing Guantanamo Bay prison. Obama says legal framework must be worked out before "Gitmo" can be closed. Military prison holds terrorist suspects, including mastermind of 9/11 attacks.

Problem: By. Hugo Gye. UPDATED:. 09:18 EST, 9 September 2011. MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be barred from voting on laws which only affect England, as the Government moves to tackle the thorny 'West Lothian question' for the first time. An independent commission will be set up to consider the issue, which was first raised 34 years ago by Tam Dalyell, the Labour MP for West Lothian. The question has become more pertinent since the advent of devolution in 1997, when separate administrations were set up for Scotland and Wales. Parliament: MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could be barred from voting on England-only legislation. Since then a large number of policy issues, particularly relating to public services, have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly. English MPs sitting at Westminster have no say over the policies set outside of English borders. However, English policies on issues like education and healthcare are still decided by the UK Parliament, and are voted on by MPs who make up the chamber meaning they can come from all the countries of the Union. In 1977, Tam Dalyell, pictured above, the Labour MP for West Lothian, pointed out that Scottish devolution could mean Scottish MPs voting on English affairs, with English MPs unable to vote on Scottish affairs. In response, controversial right-wing MP Enoch Powell said: 'Let us call it the West Lothian question.' The introduction of Scots and Welsh devolution in 1997 meant that responsibility for many policy areas was taken out of the hands of Westminster, but that MPs from those countries could still vote on purely English issues. Solutions which have been suggested for the problem include the establishment of a purely English parliament, and banning Scottish MPs from votes which do not affect their constituents. However, every possible answer has its drawbacks, and none has been very widely accepted despite it being an issue which has rumbled on for 34 years. Since devolution, there have been growing calls for 'English votes for English laws', so that MPs should no longer be able to vote on laws which will not apply in their consistuencies. The controversial voting issue became particularly heated in 2004, when Labour's policy on top-up fees was passed only with the support of Scottish MPs, even though the controversial policy did not apply in Scotland. Now after 34 years the current Government is determined to take action to end the anomaly. Constitutional reform minister Mark Harper announced in a statement to MPs that a formal proposal for the commission's work, and its terms of references, will be announced soon after Parliament returns from the party conference season. It will be made up of a small group of non-partisan experts with constitutional, legal and parliamentary expertise. Their primary task will be to examine how the Westminster Parliament can 'deal most effectively with business that affects England wholly or primarily, when at the same time similar matters in some or all of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are lawfully and democratically the responsibility of the separate parliament or assemblies,' Mr Harper said. Ministers will consult with Commons Speaker John Bercow and other parliamentary authorities before the launch of the commission, he added. All political parties will be given 'a full opportunity to have their say' following the completion of the commission's work. The commission will not consider the funding of different parts of the UK, nor the balance between English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs in the House of Commons. Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd said: 'England deserves to have its own administration to deal with issues which affect England only. 'This would then ensure that there is a clear distinction between what is a matter for England and what is a matter for other countries too. The lines are too blurred as they are.'
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Answer:
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can currently vote on laws which only affect England. English MPs have no say on devolved areas of policy.