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Government of Wales Bill

We on these Benches support the amendment and seek clarification on whether the Counsel General is now to be a political appointment, as are the Solicitor-General and the Lord Advocate in Scotland. I particularly like the third proposed subsection of the amendment, which states:"““The functions of the Counsel General shall be exercised by him independently of any other person””." The Counsel General who was appointed and served for a long time in that position in the Welsh Assembly certainly acted independently, advising the Presiding Officer and Members of their powers. He has retired but has not, as I understand it, been replaced. Consequently, there is a wide gap in the legal department of the Welsh Assembly that has to be filled. It is right that there should be a lawyer who advises on the powers of the Assembly. I hope that he will not be a political person; I hope that he can give independent advice.