Government of Wales Bill

The hon. Gentleman’s extraordinary intervention is premature. If he contains his enthusiasm, I will set out my party’s position. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for setting out the Bill’s context and main provisions. The legislation is highly significant for not only the future governance of Wales, but the constitutional position of the United Kingdom as a whole. Under my hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), the Conservative party is a party of localism and devolution. On his first visit to Wales as Leader of the Opposition just before Christmas, my right hon. Friend made it clear that devolution and the National Assembly are now established features of the Welsh political landscape. I hope that the Secretary of State will resist the temptation to revisit past battles over devolution and misrepresent our position. A future Conservative Government will seek a constructive relationship with the Assembly, whichever party or parties form the Welsh Assembly Government. We do not, however, believe that the Assembly discharges its functions in every respect either effectively or efficiently, which is something that we will seek to remedy.