Iain Duncan Smith on his election walkabout in Whitchurch, Cardiff

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has urged people to vote in the Welsh Assembly election even if they are still opposed to devolution.

As the political parties resumed full-time campaigning after the Easter break for the 1 May poll, Mr Duncan Smith visited a series of key constituencies where his party hopes to make a breakthrough.

He said there was still a lot of of apathy towards the assembly election, but it was very important to vote because it was the only way to prevent the failures of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said a low turnout would reflect the assembly's "inadequate powers and lack of clout" and "Labour's lack of ambition during the first term".

'Wasted money'

Mr Duncan Smith, beginning his Welsh tour in the Tory target seat of Cardiff North, said the health service in Wales had some of the worst figures in the UK.

The Conservatives had opposed devolution, but Mr Duncan Smith said devolution was a fact of life and his party wanted the assembly to work.

Inadequate powers and lack of clout Plaid Cymru's Ieuan Wyn Jones on the assembly

But, he said, whether people "like the assembly or not, they should turn out and vote. There's a failure of the administration here led by Rhodri Morgan to improve people's services."

He accused Labour and the Lib Dems of having wasted taxpayers' money. "There's a lot of money going in, but nothing coming out at the other end," he said.

'Hattie Jacques-type'

After his visit to Cardiff North, Mr Duncan Smith was travelling to the Vale of Glamorgan, Monmouth and Brecon and Radnorshire.

Earlier, Nick Bourne, who leads the Tories in Wales, said he wanted the assembly to evolve rather than undergo massive change, such as gaining tax-raising powers.

Hospitals need Hattie Jacques-style matrons, says Nick Bourne

Speaking in the first of the extended radio interviews with the main party leaders on the BBC's Good Morning Wales, Mr Bourne also gave his support to the return of matrons to hospital wards.

Mr Bourne said they were needed, even if people did mock the idea of a "legendary Hattie Jacques-type figure".

Fresh start

Meanwhile, Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones said the choice was between more of the same with Labour, or a fresh start.

The Plaid president said electors had an opportunity to put the assembly at the forefront of national life in Wales, and to turn it within four years into a proper parliament with Plaid Cymru.

Labour was launching the latest of its "mini-manifestos" for south Wales, while the Liberal Democrats were highlighting their opposition to top-up fees and upfront tuition fees for students.

Miners' leader Arthur Scargill will speak in south Wales on Tuesday evening in support of his Socialist Labour Party.

Mr Scargill, who is standing on the South Wales East regional seat, will address the meeting in the Newport Centre, Newport.

BBC Wales News Online is staging live chats with the leading players in the four main Welsh political parties, starting on Tuesday, 22 April, when the first guest will be Ieuan Wyn Jones, president of Plaid Cymru.

The leaders of the other main parties in Wales - Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats - will be joining us at the same time on 23, 24 and 25 April.

You can chat with Conservative Nick Bourne on Wednesday, 23 April, Liberal Democrat Mike German on Thursday, 24 April, and Labour's Rhodri Morgan on Friday, 25 April. All will begin at 1900 BST and go on for about 30 minutes.

You can e-mail your questions for all of them in advance now, at talkwales@bbc.co.uk, and you can also log on at 1900 BST on 22 - 25 April to join the live chat.

BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales will continue its interviews with the party leaders on Thursday, 24 April, from 0830 - 0900 BST.

Listeners can join in by calling 08700 100 110 on Thursday morning, by e-mailing questions in advance to goodmorningwales@bbc.co.uk, or by text on 07786 201040.