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Scotland Bill

My Lords, we have had an interesting debate. To rescue the Minister, I think that paragraph 3 is headed, "““Further devolution in the future””," which qualifies the sentence, "““The Government is open to considering what further powers might be devolved after a referendum on independence””." I think that it clearly means that it is after the referendum. I noticed that my noble friend did not answer my question when I asked what he could be thinking of, given the scope and nature of the Bill. As I get older, I get more and more interested in gardening. One thing that I have learnt is that it is a big mistake to pull plants up and move them before they have had a chance to settle and put down roots. It seems rather odd that we are discussing a Bill where the tax proposals will not come into effect until 2015-16. The noble Lord, Lord Kerr, wants us to start thinking about further devolution now. If you are going to plant this prickly sort of bush, it is probably a good idea to see whether any flowers are going to appear on it before deciding whether you are going to do more planting. I hope that my noble friend will not be tempted to expand the meaning of that sentence. I am still unclear about the Government's policy on legislative consent Motions. I am not clear whether they regard them as something which they are prepared to override, but I am clear why the Government do not want to say what they think about that. I entirely agree with my noble and learned friend's analysis of the role of Section 30. I am fascinated, as we move on to the debate on referenda, to hear from him precisely what he is going to do if he cannot get the Scottish Parliament to consent to a Section 30 proposal that contains the conditions which have been clearly laid out by the Prime Minister on a referendum. In order that we can get to that issue as quickly as possible, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment 85 withdrawn. Amendments 85A and 86 not moved. Amendment 87 Moved by