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Government of Wales Bill

moved Amendment No. 107A:"Page 144, line 20, leave out from ““shall”” to end of line 24 and insert ““be sent to the Presiding Officer of that Assembly when a copy of the instrument is laid before that Assembly drawing attention to the fact that a copy of it has not been laid before that Assembly at least 21 days before it comes into operation and explaining why.””" The noble Lord said: I move Amendment No. 107A on behalf of my noble friend Lord Evans of Temple Guiting, and speak to the other largely minor, technical amendments in this group. The amendments concern the consequential and transitional provisions of the Bill. I shall deal first with the consequential provisions. Amendment No. 107A ensures that if a statutory instrument is not laid before the Assembly at least 21 days before it comes into force, notification of this and the reason why must be sent to the Presiding Officer when a copy of the instrument is laid before the Assembly. Amendment No. 108A will allow the Electoral Commission flexibility in its expenditure on promoting the May 2007 Assembly elections. This is done by commencing a provision of the Bill earlier than originally provided for. The other two amendments correct a reference to an enactment, and specify the procedure that is to apply to regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under the Inquiries Act 2005. Overall, the amendments to Schedule 11 are aimed at ensuring that the transitional provisions can work smoothly and are specified as fully as possible in the Bill. A number of them clarify whether orders made under this schedule can be made while the current Assembly or the new Assembly exists. This is the case with Amendments Nos. 110B, 114, and 123 to 127. Other amendments in the group ensure that there is no doubt about the continuity of the exercise of functions. This is the case with Amendments Nos. 108F to 108N. Amendment No. 108B ensures that, during the initial period referred to in the Bill, the Clerk will make arrangements for the exercise of House Committee functions by Assembly staff. Amendment No. 110A makes it clear that Orders in Council under sub-paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) of paragraph 29 can contain consequential modifications of other enactments. The remaining amendments specify whether the negative or affirmative procedure is to apply to instruments made under this schedule or under powers that will transfer to the Welsh Ministers. Finally, the amendments to Schedule 12 on repeals are simply corrections. I apologise to the Committee for their necessity. I hope the Committee will recognise that the amendments are minor and technical changes to the drafting. I beg to move. On Question, amendment agreed to.