There is no pressing need for the Welsh assembly to take on the additional powers of the Scottish parliament, the Labour Party has suggested.

The suggestion came as the party published its submission to the Richard Commission, which is examining the issue.

Welsh Labour argued that the flexibility of the Government of Wales Act which established the Cardiff institution was its greatest asset, "allowing for powers to be adapted, increased and modified according to changing circumstances".

"Over the last four years the assembly has used its powers well and to the benefit of the people of Wales," said the submission.

"Real, meaningful change is being delivered across a range of policy areas with more innovative solutions...being developed as the assembly has settled into its role."

The submission follows a suggestion by Peter Hain that any extension of the assembly's powers would require wide ranging support.

In a recent speech the Welsh secretary said that any change in the powers of the assembly would require "democratic legitimacy".

"If recommendations were made by the Commission which would require changes to the Government of Wales Act, I believe that a further issue would need to be considered, that of democratic legitimacy," Hain said.

"The current devolution settlement for Wales followed a manifesto commitment in a general election and a referendum. Any major changes proposed, as well as having to demonstrate very clear, practical improvements in delivery of public services to the people of Wales, would need to have a democratic mandate."

The Richard Commission, chaired by Lord Richard of Ammanford, will also examine the process of elections to the Welsh assembly.

Although the Labour Party backed the existing number of 60 assembly members, it called for changes to some election procedures.

Candidates should not be able to stand for both constituency and regional seats, said Labour.

"The spectre of candidates who have failed to secure the support of the electorate nevertheless being elected to the assembly confuses the electorate and harms the contesting of constituency seats," the submission argued.

"The roles, rights, responsibilities and privileges of regional list and constituency members have not reflected the very different means by which they were elected.

"The situation has been aggravated by Presiding Office rulings allowing list AMs to style themselves 'local assembly members' or as the AM for a named constituency - even though, perversely, they may well have been heavily defeated when they stood for that constituency."

List assembly members should also be given reduced office and staff allowances because constituency representatives have to deal with a greater volume of casework, the party added.

A final report is expected from the Commission at the end of the year.