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National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Welsh Language)

I am not going into those realms. The concept of reasonableness may be an area that we need to return to when we see the draft order. We need to see the draft order, and there is to be a revised order. However, I am willing to return to the matter in debate, if I get an opportunity, on the Floor of the House, when we have seen how the order is framed. I shall bring my remarks to a close, because I know that there is a lot of interest and I do not want to hog the limelight. As the Secretary of State knows, I believe that Parliament and the Government should have a close working relationship with the Welsh Assembly Government. In making the legislative system work, we should be certain that we do not sacrifice for political expediency and a political timetable an important piece of legislation. The negotiations have been long-winded, and even the Secretary of State and the debate’s opening speaker, the hon. Member for Aberavon, have confirmed that the passage of the order has not been easy thus far. If we did not accept that and admit it across the parties, we would be doing a great disservice to the Welsh people. I look forward to receiving the draft order, when we can study it in detail. None of us has seen how it stands. We in this place should not be in the business of just rubber-stamping whatever request comes from the Assembly. If we get into that mindset, we shall damage Parliament irrevocably. I do not want to see that happen. What we should see now is a timetable, driven by proper scrutiny. The subject is too important to be a political pawn. I shall scrutinise the order carefully and in good faith when it arrives, in the best interests not only of the Welsh language but of the people of Wales and of the United Kingdom.