My Lords, I support this important draft order which has been requested by the Welsh Assembly, the highest political authority in Wales. However, I have one or two caveats—to which I will come—but I begin by paying tribute to the signal contribution of the teachers in the Welsh-medium schools, in...

My Lords, I support this important draft order which has been requested by the Welsh Assembly, the highest political authority in Wales. However, I have one or two caveats—to which I will come—but I begin by paying tribute to the signal contribution of the teachers in the Welsh-medium schools, in...

I thank my noble friend Lord Davies for his comprehensive description of the order and for explaining the mechanism which has led to the order. I want to concentrate on one paragraph in the Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. I concentrate on that paragraph...

I thank my noble friend Lord Davies for his comprehensive description of the order and for explaining the mechanism which has led to the order. I want to concentrate on one paragraph in the Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. I concentrate on that paragraph...

My Lords, I am not an historian or a social scientist. I am a lay man whose first language is Welsh and whose roots are deep in Welsh-speaking Wales. In preparation for this debate, I sought the help of the Library. It was, of course, immediately forthcoming. It provided me...

My Lords, I am not an historian or a social scientist. I am a lay man whose first language is Welsh and whose roots are deep in Welsh-speaking Wales. In preparation for this debate, I sought the help of the Library. It was, of course, immediately forthcoming. It provided me...

My Lords, reference has been made to my noble friend Lord Elystan-Morgan. He very much regrets that he is unable to be present today, but he is presiding over the degree-awarding ceremony at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, which is a very important event in the university calendar.

My Lords, reference has been made to my noble friend Lord Elystan-Morgan. He very much regrets that he is unable to be present today, but he is presiding over the degree-awarding ceremony at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, which is a very important event in the university calendar.

My Lords, for my part, I am deeply grateful to my noble friend Lord Evans and to the Government for tabling this amendment. I am very happy to accept the amendment and the Welsh Language Board is also satisfied. I believe that it satisfies all the objectives of the amendment which I have been pursuing...

My Lords, for my part, I am deeply grateful to my noble friend Lord Evans and to the Government for tabling this amendment. I am very happy to accept the amendment and the Welsh Language Board is also satisfied. I believe that it satisfies all the objectives of the amendment which I have been pursuing...

Notwithstanding that injunction by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy, I should like to take the time of the Committee in fully supporting this important amendment. I deeply regret that it has been necessary to bring such an amendment before the Committee, but I fully support the principle on which it is based....

Notwithstanding that injunction by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy, I should like to take the time of the Committee in fully supporting this important amendment. I deeply regret that it has been necessary to bring such an amendment before the Committee, but I fully support the principle on which it is based....

I, too, have been baffled by that wording and I had so informed the BMA in Wales. It appears to me that this is either a decision for the legislature or for the Executive. I am puzzled that the matter should be addressed to the First Minister.

I, too, have been baffled by that wording and I had so informed the BMA in Wales. It appears to me that this is either a decision for the legislature or for the Executive. I am puzzled that the matter should be addressed to the First Minister.

My noble friend on the Front Bench made the fair point that it may not be for this Bill to prescribe how the Welsh Assembly is to make its legislation accessible. I accept that, but the problem remains. I shall give one example of it: the direction powers issued by the Welsh...

My noble friend on the Front Bench made the fair point that it may not be for this Bill to prescribe how the Welsh Assembly is to make its legislation accessible. I accept that, but the problem remains. I shall give one example of it: the direction powers issued by the Welsh...

I, too, would be grateful if the Minister could clarify a point that arises from the contribution made by my noble friend Lord Rowlands. My question relates to the provision in the order enabling the Assembly to give financial support to the air industry. Let us take that one example. Do I understand my...

I, too, would be grateful if the Minister could clarify a point that arises from the contribution made by my noble friend Lord Rowlands. My question relates to the provision in the order enabling the Assembly to give financial support to the air industry. Let us take that one example. Do I understand my...

I thank the noble Lords, Lord Crickhowell and Lord Roberts of Llandudno, for their support. However, I confess that the response of my noble friend was disappointing. He has spoken once again of tensions within the current government, but we are legislating for the future. My noble friend has failed to explain why a...

I thank the noble Lords, Lord Crickhowell and Lord Roberts of Llandudno, for their support. However, I confess that the response of my noble friend was disappointing. He has spoken once again of tensions within the current government, but we are legislating for the future. My noble friend has failed to explain why a...

I rise to speak in support of Amendment No. 53 in this group. I agree with almost every word uttered by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy. He is an immense authority on the modern legal status of the Welsh language, he being the author of the expression, ““treating both languages on the grounds...

I rise to speak in support of Amendment No. 53 in this group. I agree with almost every word uttered by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy. He is an immense authority on the modern legal status of the Welsh language, he being the author of the expression, ““treating both languages on the grounds...

My Lords, I pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Richard for the report produced two years ago by his committee under his masterly chairmanship. The committee reviewed the working of the Government of Wales Act 1998. It is my belief that, without the commission’s report, we would not today have before us...

My Lords, I pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Richard for the report produced two years ago by his committee under his masterly chairmanship. The committee reviewed the working of the Government of Wales Act 1998. It is my belief that, without the commission’s report, we would not today have before us...

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Rowlands first alerted your Lordships to the mischief in Clause 6 as drawn. I am sure that he will be particularly gratified that the Government have tabled this amendment. I welcome it wholeheartedly. On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 1 [The Commissioner for Older People in Wales]:

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Rowlands first alerted your Lordships to the mischief in Clause 6 as drawn. I am sure that he will be particularly gratified that the Government have tabled this amendment. I welcome it wholeheartedly. On Question, amendment agreed to. Schedule 1 [The Commissioner for Older People in Wales]:

My Lords, I want to express my support for both of the amendments. The commissioner should be able to cross the boundary between the devolved and the non-devolved functions of government. As the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, has just said, we debated similar amendments when the Children’s Commissioner for Wales Bill was...

My Lords, I want to express my support for both of the amendments. The commissioner should be able to cross the boundary between the devolved and the non-devolved functions of government. As the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, has just said, we debated similar amendments when the Children’s Commissioner for Wales Bill was...

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to my noble friend for having tabled Amendment No. 3. On the other hand, I regret that the areas to be researched are restricted. They are important limitations. Nevertheless, Amendment No. 3 will be an important facility in the hands of the commissioner, and I am grateful to the Government...

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to my noble friend for having tabled Amendment No. 3. On the other hand, I regret that the areas to be researched are restricted. They are important limitations. Nevertheless, Amendment No. 3 will be an important facility in the hands of the commissioner, and I am grateful to the Government...

I thought that Amendment No. 6 was to insert words into Clause 2, not Clause 1.

I thought that Amendment No. 6 was to insert words into Clause 2, not Clause 1.

I believe that a strong case can be made out in support of Amendment No. 19; the appointment of a traffic commissioner for Wales. However, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales stated:"““The reason that there is no provision to create a separate commissioner for Wales is that the current commissioners cover...

I believe that a strong case can be made out in support of Amendment No. 19; the appointment of a traffic commissioner for Wales. However, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales stated:"““The reason that there is no provision to create a separate commissioner for Wales is that the current commissioners cover...

I have a good deal of sympathy with Amendment No. 2. At Second Reading in the House of Commons, the Welsh Secretary of State said that a well functioning transport network,"““plays a crucial role in the development of a diverse, competitive, high-value-added economy and is the backbone of economic growth””.—[Official Report, Commons,...

I have a good deal of sympathy with Amendment No. 2. At Second Reading in the House of Commons, the Welsh Secretary of State said that a well functioning transport network,"““plays a crucial role in the development of a diverse, competitive, high-value-added economy and is the backbone of economic growth””.—[Official Report, Commons,...

I share the views expressed by both the noble Lords, Lord Roberts of Conwy and Lord Roberts of Llandudno, that the Assembly should consult with representatives of elderly and disabled people. Further, what I have to say on this amendment applies also to Amendments Nos. 7 and 8, which we will consider later. However, I find...

I share the views expressed by both the noble Lords, Lord Roberts of Conwy and Lord Roberts of Llandudno, that the Assembly should consult with representatives of elderly and disabled people. Further, what I have to say on this amendment applies also to Amendments Nos. 7 and 8, which we will consider later. However, I find...

Does my noble friend agree with the assertions contained in the briefing material that noble Lords have received from Transport 2000 Cymru, to which I have referred? I am in no position to offer a judgment on those assertions but I can send my noble friend a copy of that briefing material, which may...

Does my noble friend agree with the assertions contained in the briefing material that noble Lords have received from Transport 2000 Cymru, to which I have referred? I am in no position to offer a judgment on those assertions but I can send my noble friend a copy of that briefing material, which may...