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Government of Wales Bill

The Secretary of State shakes his head, but an MP is sent to the House to legislate. If the people of Wales make it clear in a referendum that they want the Welsh Assembly to have responsibility for primary legislation, and if the Government hands over that responsibility, the result will be similar to what happened with Scotland—this House will relinquish some of its power, and therefore shed an element of sovereignty. The Secretary of State will accept that, when the Government’s proposed procedure is a hybrid, the responsibility for good governance remains here. However, the Government’s proposals envisage that this House will part with its responsibility in response to a draft document that cannot be reconsidered. That is what worries me: once the principle of the Order in Council has been accepted, the Secretary of State and the Assembly will resolve the details of legislation and Parliament will have no further opportunity to consider the matter.