Government of Wales Bill

It is not without merit. The Secretary of State for Wales currently works quite well with the First Minister because both come from the same party, so the relationship has not really been tested. I suspect that the real problems will begin when the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Minister come from different parties. My point is simply that this proposal is a recipe for division. The more powers that we give to the Assembly and the more importance that we place on the Secretary of State’s deciding whether to give powers the Assembly, the more likely it is that such divisions will occur. Another problem is that future legislation will not subject to the existing level of scrutiny. I am new to this Chamber but I have learned very quickly that there are more than 1,000 people here—in this place and in another—who can contribute their views on any legislation. Most legislation is amended significantly during its passage, and although Members of Parliament will have some ability to amend legislation affecting Wales, such scrutiny will not be anything like the same. Scrutiny is likely to rest with the 60 Welsh Assembly Members and the 11 members of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. With the best will in the world, no matter how high the standards—they are particularly high among my own group, of course—those 71 people are never going to have the same pool of experience and expertise as the more than 1,000 people in the Houses of Parliament.