Government of Wales Bill

We move on to part 4 of the Bill. In the spirit of the welcome that I accord to this section of the Bill, we thoroughly approve of the provision for a referendum. As we have argued previously, we believe in asking the people of Wales for their views. Although the provision comes late in relation to the legislative devices encompassed in the Bill, certainly in part 3, we would not be so curmudgeonly as to fail to welcome the referendum should the Assembly receive full law-making powers. I want to express an element of scepticism, however, on behalf of many who read that the Secretary of State does not envisage the provision being enacted before 2011—which, I understand, he has said on many occasions—and who believe that offering a referendum in such circumstances is merely a diversionary tactic. Certainly, by ostensibly offering a referendum in the Bill, the Secretary of State can point out that the Bill contains a provision that arranges to consult the people of Wales on a future occasion. In truth, however, it is so far into the future that it seems strange that we should be discussing it now. Therefore, while many continue to believe that the Secretary of Sate can achieve virtually full law-making powers through the convoluted Order in Council process contained in part 3, they remain to be convinced that the Secretary of State has any intention of ever holding this referendum. I am a pleasant person, however—