Devolution has given Wales its own National Assembly, closely followed by a host of new government posts, but in a land known for its poetic tradition - where is the Poet Laureate?

This is the question posed by the reviews editor of Wales's leading English-language poetry journal "Poetry Wales".

The appointment of Andrew Motion as Poet Laureate last year renewed debate on the worth of the post.

Former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes wrote, says Amy Wack, "gloriously bad" poems for the Queen

But certainly the Blair administration saw it as important enough to continue.

At the time of the appointment, calls for a post-devolution poet solely for Wales were drowned out by the clamour of the political jockeying in the new Assembly.

However, Poetry Wales's reviews editor Amy Wack said the fundamental problem was one of money.

She described the £5,000 Andrew Motion receives as "utterly derisory".

"The (American) Library of Congress Poet serves a three-year term, gets £30,000 a year and has a promotions budget," she said.

'Poet as professional'

"The proposed Irish laureate will get £20,000 per annum and will be required to lecture one term each at three different universities.

"There are also State Poets in America and even a Town Poet in our very own Newport, south Wales.

"The idea of a poet as a professional is what is being evoked here.

"Professionals get paid don't they? Anyone else in the top 10% of their profession, as Motion is, would expect something appropriate. Ask Ryan Giggs."

Ms Wack points out that the latest Poet Laureate's appointment was not a speedy exercise.

Focus groups

"Did New Labour have to appeal to focus groups?"

"Governments are huge, unwieldy institutions more efficient at reducing the individual to a statistic than fostering culture.

"Is there room for a poet laureate of Wales of the new millennium?"

The Welsh Academi, the literature promotion agency of Wales, has proposed two Welsh Poet Laureates - one for the Welsh and one for the English language.

They would both be attached to the National Assembly.

'Writers must tussle for attention'

"Wouldn't this be a fine opportunity for Wales to take the initiative, adopt some version of the Irish/American model and appoint its own (decently paid) Laureate?" said Ms Wack.

"Unfortunately there is no one in the Assembly Cabinet solely responsible for the arts.

"Assembly Secretary Tom Middlehurst is in charge of 'culture, post-16 education and training, sport, life-long learning'.

"Writers must tussle for attention with painters, athletes, musicians, students and anyone still curious past the age of 16.