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Government of Wales Bill

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says and I have noted it. I may deal with it in a moment, through the other points that I am about to make. Secondly, my amendment would provide a defined time period, during which thoughts about, and plans for, a subsequent referendum would be unnecessary. That would avoid the potential for doing needless work and—dare I say it?—indulging in political posturing. In his response to my Committee’s report, the Secretary of State argued that a subsequent referendum would need the approval of the National Assembly and both Houses of Parliament, and that that was a ““sufficient safeguard””. He is correct to say that that safeguard would prevent a subsequent referendum from going ahead, but it would not prevent the National Assembly from making premature requests for subsequent referendums. My amendment would prevent that problem from arising and avoid the need for making judgment calls on the appropriateness of the timing of subsequent requests for referendums.