As the noble Lord knows, I would be quite relaxed about that answer were it not for the fact that the Government continue to claim that the new Assembly-making measure is still subordinate legislation. However, I think that we have covered that ground already. I shall certainly reflect on it between now and Report...

As the noble Lord knows, I would be quite relaxed about that answer were it not for the fact that the Government continue to claim that the new Assembly-making measure is still subordinate legislation. However, I think that we have covered that ground already. I shall certainly reflect on it between now and Report...

Amendment No. 56 would certainly remove the protection afforded to Assembly measures against legal challenge on grounds of procedure invalidity in the proceedings of the Assembly leading to enactment. The Government do not think that the Assembly should be impeded by legal challenges, some of which might be wholly spurious. Article 9 of...

Amendment No. 56 would certainly remove the protection afforded to Assembly measures against legal challenge on grounds of procedure invalidity in the proceedings of the Assembly leading to enactment. The Government do not think that the Assembly should be impeded by legal challenges, some of which might be wholly spurious. Article 9 of...

The noble Lord is saying that the question for a referendum under Part 4 is as simple as he put it: do people want the Welsh Assembly to have primary legislative powers? That precise question is equally applicable to Part 3, which grants primary legislative powers. It is only a question of quantity,...

The noble Lord is saying that the question for a referendum under Part 4 is as simple as he put it: do people want the Welsh Assembly to have primary legislative powers? That precise question is equally applicable to Part 3, which grants primary legislative powers. It is only a question of quantity,...

I do not see how we can lose a referendum on Part 4 if the noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, will be campaigning in its favour with the passion that he has expressed tonight. Indeed, if we can now have an undertaking from the Conservative Front Bench that not only will there be a...

I do not see how we can lose a referendum on Part 4 if the noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, will be campaigning in its favour with the passion that he has expressed tonight. Indeed, if we can now have an undertaking from the Conservative Front Bench that not only will there be a...

I have listened to the noble Lord, Lord Rowlands, making very persuasive speeches for more than 30 years. I do not think I have ever heard him make a less persuasive one than that. The noble Lord gave the whole game away in his opening remarks. The real reason the Government do not want to move on...

I have listened to the noble Lord, Lord Rowlands, making very persuasive speeches for more than 30 years. I do not think I have ever heard him make a less persuasive one than that. The noble Lord gave the whole game away in his opening remarks. The real reason the Government do not want to move on...

I am delighted to hear it. I do not think it is an answer to my point, to say ““Well, if they want it, we’ll accept it””. What we want to know from the Front Bench of the Conservative Party is whether they will campaign for it. If all the political parties...

I am delighted to hear it. I do not think it is an answer to my point, to say ““Well, if they want it, we’ll accept it””. What we want to know from the Front Bench of the Conservative Party is whether they will campaign for it. If all the political parties...

The Front Bench of my party in another place has already made it perfectly clear that the choice should lie with the people of Wales: if they want it, the Conservative Party will grant it to them. The noble Lord, who has obscured the issue by trying to dredge back...

The Front Bench of my party in another place has already made it perfectly clear that the choice should lie with the people of Wales: if they want it, the Conservative Party will grant it to them. The noble Lord, who has obscured the issue by trying to dredge back...

Yes, there are problems with the parliamentary timetable. The noble Lord makes my point. That was only one of two Bills which got into the legislative programme for that year. That is not satisfactory. For the Assembly to prove its worth, it must have the tools to carry out its policies....

Yes, there are problems with the parliamentary timetable. The noble Lord makes my point. That was only one of two Bills which got into the legislative programme for that year. That is not satisfactory. For the Assembly to prove its worth, it must have the tools to carry out its policies....

Will the noble Lord allow me to remind him of the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill? We had the Second Reading shortly after the election and had to wait for around 18 weeks for a Committee stage. We were ready: there was no problem with the legislation here, but there was elsewhere.

Will the noble Lord allow me to remind him of the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill? We had the Second Reading shortly after the election and had to wait for around 18 weeks for a Committee stage. We were ready: there was no problem with the legislation here, but there was elsewhere.

I have some sympathy with the amendments proposed. The office of Counsel General has suffered a sea change within the past few years. When the Assembly was first created, the role of the Counsel General could probably have been said to be akin to that of a conscientious clerk to a...

I have some sympathy with the amendments proposed. The office of Counsel General has suffered a sea change within the past few years. When the Assembly was first created, the role of the Counsel General could probably have been said to be akin to that of a conscientious clerk to a...

When the Assembly was constituted as a corporate body, it was quite clear that one needed one Counsel General, but it became clear after a while that he had to perform two distinct roles. One role clearly was that he was there to advise the Assembly Government, who, however one...

When the Assembly was constituted as a corporate body, it was quite clear that one needed one Counsel General, but it became clear after a while that he had to perform two distinct roles. One role clearly was that he was there to advise the Assembly Government, who, however one...

We on these Benches support the amendment and seek clarification on whether the Counsel General is now to be a political appointment, as are the Solicitor-General and the Lord Advocate in Scotland. I particularly like the third proposed subsection of the amendment, which states:"““The functions of the Counsel General shall be exercised...

We on these Benches support the amendment and seek clarification on whether the Counsel General is now to be a political appointment, as are the Solicitor-General and the Lord Advocate in Scotland. I particularly like the third proposed subsection of the amendment, which states:"““The functions of the Counsel General shall be exercised...

I support what has just been said by my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford and the noble Lord, Lord Hunt. The history of this appointment is not altogether happy. As has been said, Mr Roddick, who was the first Counsel General, regarded himself, and was widely regarded, as being entirely independent. Those who...

I support what has just been said by my noble friend Lord Thomas of Gresford and the noble Lord, Lord Hunt. The history of this appointment is not altogether happy. As has been said, Mr Roddick, who was the first Counsel General, regarded himself, and was widely regarded, as being entirely independent. Those who...

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now again resolve itself into Committee on this Bill. Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to. House in Committee accordingly. [The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (Baroness Thomas of Walliswood) in the Chair.] Clauses 33 to 48 agreed to. Clause 49 [Counsel General]:

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now again resolve itself into Committee on this Bill. Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to. House in Committee accordingly. [The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (Baroness Thomas of Walliswood) in the Chair.] Clauses 33 to 48 agreed to. Clause 49 [Counsel General]:

moved Amendment No. 42:"Page 29, line 28, at end insert—" ““(   )   No recommendation for the appointment of a person as the Counsel General may be made by the First Minister without prior consultation with the Attorney General. (   )   No person may be recommended for appointment as the Counsel General unless he is— (a) a member...

moved Amendment No. 42:"Page 29, line 28, at end insert—" ““(   )   No recommendation for the appointment of a person as the Counsel General may be made by the First Minister without prior consultation with the Attorney General. (   )   No person may be recommended for appointment as the Counsel General unless he is— (a) a member...

The noble Lord is not going to entice me down the path of the Ram doctrine. I am not sufficient a constitutional lawyer to debate with him those issues. Let me say, however, that we have taken that point into account. It is because we do not think that Welsh Ministers can...

The noble Lord is not going to entice me down the path of the Ram doctrine. I am not sufficient a constitutional lawyer to debate with him those issues. Let me say, however, that we have taken that point into account. It is because we do not think that Welsh Ministers can...

It is my privilege, too, to welcome the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, who proposed this amendment. We go back quite a long way on Welsh affairs. It is good to see him here this afternoon. On the amendment before us, certainly our Members had a long discussion about Clause 60. It is...

It is my privilege, too, to welcome the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, who proposed this amendment. We go back quite a long way on Welsh affairs. It is good to see him here this afternoon. On the amendment before us, certainly our Members had a long discussion about Clause 60. It is...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, for welcoming the amendment. It is good to be working with him, albeit on some modest amendments at the present time. I am grateful to the Minister for his ““modest”” contribution. I could say that he has so little to be modest about, but I would...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, for welcoming the amendment. It is good to be working with him, albeit on some modest amendments at the present time. I am grateful to the Minister for his ““modest”” contribution. I could say that he has so little to be modest about, but I would...

We feel that this amendment is too restrictive and prescriptive. Eight Ministers does not encompass the functions of the Assembly. In Part 1 of Schedule 5 it is interesting to see all the fields that the Welsh Assembly covers; it lists as many as 20. That is approaching the kind of figure that...

We feel that this amendment is too restrictive and prescriptive. Eight Ministers does not encompass the functions of the Assembly. In Part 1 of Schedule 5 it is interesting to see all the fields that the Welsh Assembly covers; it lists as many as 20. That is approaching the kind of figure that...

As we have heard, Amendment No. 43 would limit the number of Ministers to eight and Deputy Ministers to three. The Government agree that a limit is important to the effective function of the Assembly and that there should be a limit on the size of the payroll vote. The Bill sets...

As we have heard, Amendment No. 43 would limit the number of Ministers to eight and Deputy Ministers to three. The Government agree that a limit is important to the effective function of the Assembly and that there should be a limit on the size of the payroll vote. The Bill sets...