---

Postal Services Bill [HL]

The whole nature of devolution is about the separation of powers and responsibilities. That means that there are elected representatives in the other place who have responsibilities that are quite clear and well defined. The Scottish Parliament and the other bodies have no powers whatever over post office services in the United Kingdom. It is an absolute waste of the public’s and elected representatives’ time if they are afforded debating opportunities in which they have no powers to enact and with which they can do nothing. My noble friend is therefore misleading the Committee when he suggests that everybody should have a chance to debate everything regardless of whether or not they have any responsibility for it. It is an absolute nonsense as far as devolution is concerned. Those of us who advocated devolution long and hard did not want to create in Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh meaningless debating clubs with people talking about things over which they have, at the end of the day, no power, responsibility or legislative effect. My noble friend is misleading us in every respect in suggesting that the Scottish Parliament and the Assemblies are in any way entitled to talk about things over which they have no power whatever.