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Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]

The central statement in the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, about the governance of Wales Bill coming before this one, was an expression of wish. We have a political reality and, for whatever reason, we are proceeding with this Bill now. We cannot change the settlement as we go through it. We can talk about it, but we are not going to get anywhere. I left a little door open by saying that we may have possibilities to pursue the matter when the Bill returns to the Floor of the House. I can be pressed as hard as you like, but I cannot make any movement, for incredibly obvious reasons, on the matter about which the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, and his colleagues feel so strongly, which is a running theme through many of the amendments. I apologise for that. If I am forced to say it over and over again between now and 7.30 pm, I will do so—but unhappily. We are talking about the non-devolved bodies. Of course, there will be co-operation between the Assembly and the commissioner but, for reasons that are obvious, that cannot be in the Bill. I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, that the police are crucial to the welfare of older people and play an enormously important role in their lives. Policing is not at the moment a devolved matter, but the police will still be able to do the very good work for older people that they do now. The commissioner of police can make representations to the Assembly even if non-devolved bodies are included in the Bill. It may ultimately be possible for police authorities to be added to the list in Schedule 2 if the Secretary of State consents. He has not been asked that question, but it is a possibility. Given Amendment No. 36, the umbrella reason that I have given for not accepting the other amendments and the encouragement that I have given about policing, I hope that the noble Lord will be able to withdraw the amendment.