UK Parliament / Open data

Government of Wales Bill

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I know of his interest in Welsh affairs, because his name often appears on the Order Paper for Welsh questions. Yes, we are suggesting that the Assembly should have power over the police, and it has been suggested for some time that it should have the power to determine the finances of the police authorities. Indeed, chief constables support that view. We believe that the police would function best if they were under the control of the Assembly. That is our policy. Why should Wales have a different system from Scotland? Is that because, unlike Scotland, we are subject to a second-class system? Would it not be much better and much clearer for people such as myself who support the United Kingdom, who want to stay within the United Kingdom and who want Wales to play an important part in the United Kingdom, to have every assurance that the Welsh Assembly has the competence to legislate on the reserve matters as set out in new schedule 1 and that Wales will remain in the United Kingdom but with all the powers necessary to deliver first-class services for the people of Wales?
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
441 c1247-8 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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