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Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Consequential Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2006

I shall make a few remarks about the second of these orders, the transfer of functions to Scottish Ministers. I assume that the answer to my noble friend’s question is that, yes, food matters would be devolved to the Scottish Ministers. That is the whole point of the order. I want to say a few words because those with long memories will recall that, during the passage of the Scotland Act through both Houses, it was said many times by Donald Dewar, myself and others that devolution was not an event, it was a process. These orders, particularly the second, are proof of that: this is a furtherance of the whole process of bringing government as near to the people as is sensible. At the time, we were promised that, after 10 years or so, there would be a review of the workings of the Scotland Act. That means that the review will take place during the next Scottish Parliament, the election of which is due in April—not far away. That election being due is causing a flurry of opinion polls and speculation as to what the composition of the next Parliament will be. I would appeal for a moment of calm because I recall—the noble Duke, the Duke of Montrose, will also recall, no doubt—that in 1998 we had similar opinion polls predicting that there would be a great surge for the Scottish National Party. I remember the SNP campaigning in 1993 under the slogan ““Free by ‘93””. Doubtless, it will have a new one saying, ““In heaven by 2007””. But there is no need for an absurd reaction to these things. Recently, the Home Secretary, for whom I have a high regard, seemed to have taken leave of his senses in arguing that separation would make life easier for al-Qaeda in Scotland. This is an absurdity. There are far better arguments to combat separatism, one of which centres on the social security system to which this order relates. I recently chaired a commission to look at possible ways in which we might transfer taxation powers to the Scottish Parliament. On one thing we were certain: the complexity of the social security system is such that it makes sense to retain it as a United Kingdom function and that to try to dismantle or separate it would be extremely expensive and complex. This order is a practical measure devolving to Scottish Ministers those parts of the social security system which can sensibly be devolved, particularly the Healthy Start scheme, which is a hybrid. It is a health matter as well as a social security matter and its operation is sensibly left north of the Border to Scottish Ministers. I welcome this order as a demonstration of devolution, of the Scotland Act working effectively and I thank the Minister for introducing it.