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Government of Wales Bill

Of course some judgment has to be made by the Secretary of State, otherwise the Conservatives would be not only arguing most enthusiastically for devolution, but saying that the rest of Britain had no role whatever in this process. A vote in an Assembly that was carried by a majority of one could then be translated into the will of the nation, whereas the nation is more than just Wales; it is also the rest of the United Kingdom, which has a view on devolution. Therefore, of course the Secretary of State should have some interest in this matter. That is bound to be the case. The Conservative position goes from the absurd to the almost outrageous—and is untenable. The noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, should recognise that his amendments, far from advancing the cause of devolution, potentially devalue the role of the National Assembly under the existing arrangements, never mind build on them. It is not unreasonable for the Secretary of State to have some discretion in the matter and to be able to take into account views expressed in consultation. The United Kingdom Government of the day should have a say on such a major constitutional decision. Or has the Conservative Party been out of government for so long that it has lost sight of the possibility that it might even be a Conservative Secretary of State to whom it would deny any such role? I am sure that the whole country will take note of that. I and the Government believe that the Secretary of State would have some responsibility to Parliament, to which he would be answerable for a decision taken by the devolved Assembly on this matter.