Does the shadow Attorney-General see any contradiction between his proposal to delete part 1 of schedule 5 and the position taken by the leader of his party in the Assembly, who has voted, and called, for extending schedule 5 to include new areas such as energy?

Does the shadow Attorney-General see any contradiction between his proposal to delete part 1 of schedule 5 and the position taken by the leader of his party in the Assembly, who has voted, and called, for extending schedule 5 to include new areas such as energy?

I wish to return to the internal problems in the Conservative party. If the Order in Council procedure is such anathema to the Conservative party, why, on 25 January in the Assembly Committee considering the Bill, did the leader of the Welsh Conservative party ask for more subject areas to...

I wish to return to the internal problems in the Conservative party. If the Order in Council procedure is such anathema to the Conservative party, why, on 25 January in the Assembly Committee considering the Bill, did the leader of the Welsh Conservative party ask for more subject areas to...

This is a modest demand, and a perfect opportunity for the Government to concede one amendment to the Opposition parties. We are only talking about a name change—it does not change the concrete constitutional settlement one iota, so I hope that the Under-Secretary will find it in his heart to...

This is a modest demand, and a perfect opportunity for the Government to concede one amendment to the Opposition parties. We are only talking about a name change—it does not change the concrete constitutional settlement one iota, so I hope that the Under-Secretary will find it in his heart to...

: I am happy to support the amendment moved by the hon. Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies). It was made clear by Ministers at the time of the passing of the Government of Wales Act 1998 that trade unions were meant to be included in the ambit of business organisations,...

: I am happy to support the amendment moved by the hon. Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies). It was made clear by Ministers at the time of the passing of the Government of Wales Act 1998 that trade unions were meant to be included in the ambit of business organisations,...

The hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith) is of course right—the Charter Secretary of State for Wales advocated the creation of a Welsh Office as early as 1946, I believe. Of course, it took almost 20 years to achieve that modest objective, and that is part of the problem that...

The hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith) is of course right—the Charter Secretary of State for Wales advocated the creation of a Welsh Office as early as 1946, I believe. Of course, it took almost 20 years to achieve that modest objective, and that is part of the problem that...

Time is short, so if the hon. Lady will forgive me I will not give way. This Bill, like so many home rule Bills in our history, stands in a long line of half-measures and missed opportunities. Tom Ellis’s home rule Bill, for example, was struck down by a Liberal...

Time is short, so if the hon. Lady will forgive me I will not give way. This Bill, like so many home rule Bills in our history, stands in a long line of half-measures and missed opportunities. Tom Ellis’s home rule Bill, for example, was struck down by a Liberal...

I accept that and look forward to the Conservative party devoting one of its Opposition days to a call for the revision of the Barnett formula. We would support such a motion, as we will support the Liberal Democrats in the Lobby tonight. This matter is far too important to...

I accept that and look forward to the Conservative party devoting one of its Opposition days to a call for the revision of the Barnett formula. We would support such a motion, as we will support the Liberal Democrats in the Lobby tonight. This matter is far too important to...

: I am disappointed to hear the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan)—who has been gracious, as ever—say that, unfortunately, the Conservatives will not support the new clause, despite the spirit of revisionism that seems to be blowing through their party as we speak. This is an opportunity...

: I am disappointed to hear the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan)—who has been gracious, as ever—say that, unfortunately, the Conservatives will not support the new clause, despite the spirit of revisionism that seems to be blowing through their party as we speak. This is an opportunity...

: Perhaps even the Secretary of State would privately accept that the sight of a majority—[Interruption.] I have not finished yet. This is not exactly the Government’s finest hour, as they are pushing through proposals opposed by every other political party at a time of falling participation in politics. There...

: Perhaps even the Secretary of State would privately accept that the sight of a majority—[Interruption.] I have not finished yet. This is not exactly the Government’s finest hour, as they are pushing through proposals opposed by every other political party at a time of falling participation in politics. There...

I am under instruction from the Government Whips not to take any interventions, but I shall give way to the hon. Gentleman.

I am under instruction from the Government Whips not to take any interventions, but I shall give way to the hon. Gentleman.

Let us look at the results, because the hon. Gentleman was slightly economical in the quotes that he gave. The executive summary to his report says:"““We found slightly more of the total number of respondents””—" that huge figure of 47, including five don’t-knows—"““said that dual candidacy was unfair compared with...

Let us look at the results, because the hon. Gentleman was slightly economical in the quotes that he gave. The executive summary to his report says:"““We found slightly more of the total number of respondents””—" that huge figure of 47, including five don’t-knows—"““said that dual candidacy was unfair compared with...

Does not the hon. Lady find it absolutely astonishing that although we have heard repeated accusations from Labour Members about the abuse of position of an Assembly Member, we find that a Labour Member is using his parliamentary allowance—taxpayers’ money—for a report that is clearly to the advantage of the...

Does not the hon. Lady find it absolutely astonishing that although we have heard repeated accusations from Labour Members about the abuse of position of an Assembly Member, we find that a Labour Member is using his parliamentary allowance—taxpayers’ money—for a report that is clearly to the advantage of the...

A French letter.

A French letter.

I beg to move amendment No. 159, in clause 108, page 59, line 18, after ‘Parliament’, insert ‘or

I beg to move amendment No. 159, in clause 108, page 59, line 18, after ‘Parliament’, insert ‘or

The amendments refer once again to the position of the House of Lords in relation to proposals in the Bill, so I do not want to detain the Committee unduly. There are proponents of bicameralism and of unicameralism, but what the Bill seems to propose throughout is tricameralism. There are...

The amendments refer once again to the position of the House of Lords in relation to proposals in the Bill, so I do not want to detain the Committee unduly. There are proponents of bicameralism and of unicameralism, but what the Bill seems to propose throughout is tricameralism. There are...

The hon. Gentleman’s point is well made in the context of recent events—it would be inappropriate to go into detail at the moment. The issue of the arm’s length principle in cultural policy is a broader question. I have some sympathy for the continental European model of Ministries of Culture,...

The hon. Gentleman’s point is well made in the context of recent events—it would be inappropriate to go into detail at the moment. The issue of the arm’s length principle in cultural policy is a broader question. I have some sympathy for the continental European model of Ministries of Culture,...

I apologise for not being here for the beginning of the debate, but I had a meeting with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The amendments seek to expand the competency of the National Assembly in various areas. On broadcasting, there is an anomaly in the devolution settlement:...

I apologise for not being here for the beginning of the debate, but I had a meeting with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The amendments seek to expand the competency of the National Assembly in various areas. On broadcasting, there is an anomaly in the devolution settlement:...

Yet again, I am disappointed, but hardly surprised and certainly not shocked by the Secretary of State’s rejection of our restatement of the Welsh people’s democratic right to self-determination. However, on the basis that we will not finish the unfinished business of the House of Lords reform this evening, I...

Yet again, I am disappointed, but hardly surprised and certainly not shocked by the Secretary of State’s rejection of our restatement of the Welsh people’s democratic right to self-determination. However, on the basis that we will not finish the unfinished business of the House of Lords reform this evening, I...

The hon. Gentleman has made another excellent point. The Government do not have a very good record of listening to independent commissions when the results of their inquiries do not accord with their own narrow party advantage. That is why we do not propose that the wording should be decided...

The hon. Gentleman has made another excellent point. The Government do not have a very good record of listening to independent commissions when the results of their inquiries do not accord with their own narrow party advantage. That is why we do not propose that the wording should be decided...

As ever, my hon. Friend has made a strong point, which constitutes a trenchant criticism of the governing party. Presumably the Electoral Commission could produce a report criticising the wording, and its independent advice could be ignored again.

As ever, my hon. Friend has made a strong point, which constitutes a trenchant criticism of the governing party. Presumably the Electoral Commission could produce a report criticising the wording, and its independent advice could be ignored again.