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Government of Wales Bill

I thank the Minister for that reply. I suggest that the commissioners whom he has tried to use as exemplars of UK practice are of a different kind; they were not set up with the intention that they would have the degree of independence that applies to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales and will apply to the Commissioner for Older People—although that has not yet been completed. We need to consider the Minister’s argument that it will be adequate for the Assembly to hold Welsh Ministers to account if it does not like their proposals. That does not meet what these Benches and the Liberal Democrat Benches were trying to achieve, which was to ensure that the existing independence was preserved and, indeed, enhanced under the new arrangements for Wales. So we will want to consider this matter again and return to it on Report. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 100 and 101 not moved.]