Government of Wales Bill

I am not minded to support the amendment, but it raises a pertinent issue. It might be helpful if the Minister took the opportunity to explain the nature of the relationship that will exist between the Counsel-General and the Assembly. There is some lack of clarity in the Bill’s text about whether the Counsel-General is the servant of the Executive and the Ministers or of the Assembly, or of both. Of course, in this House, the Attorney-General fulfils a function both as the Government’s adviser and, in theory, an adviser to the House, although because he is not a Member of the House, it is difficult for him to discharge that responsibility. I have not seen the Solicitor-General fulfil that function since he was appointed. It is an issue on which there needs to be some clarity. On the face of it, I can see why the Government have restricted the right to make a reference to the Counsel-General or the Attorney-General, but it raises the question of what the Counsel-General’s duties will be and how he should discharge them. I assume that by virtue of his office he has to cast a wholly impartial eye over legislation and, if he thinks that there is an issue of controversy or difficulty, to make the reference. However, that raises a question about the extent to which he should be seen to act and will act independently and the extent to which he will be seen as a creature of the Executive. The standard problem that could arise, I suppose, is an issue on which there is disagreement between the Assembly and Ministers. We should like some reassurance from the Government as to how they see this working in practice.