Government of Wales Bill

We have demonstrated in this first debate that hon. Members are being concise. There has not been an undue amount of discursive commentary. In conclusion, I shall explain why it is important to divide on the matter. Although it may not be so important to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Albert Owen), there are many who take seriously the title of the Welsh Assembly. They think it is the wrong name and they aspire to ““Welsh Senedd””. We should not demean the importance of the terminology that we use for the institution that we are modifying through the Bill. Of course we are not changing the world by changing the name of the Welsh Assembly, but in one significant and demonstrable way we will illustrate that we change our intent as to how strategic we wish that institution to be. As the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham rightly pointed out, some of us made these points at an early stage in our previous debate nine years ago, when the Welsh Assembly was set up. It is natural for us to be consistent and to pursue the matter again. Our point has now been made and I hope that, having reflected on the matter, some hon. Members will now be persuaded to support the amendment. Question put, That the amendment be made:— The Committee divided: Ayes 38, Noes 398.