Parliament (Participation of Members of the House of Commons) Bill [HL]

My Lords, if the Scottish people heard the arguments for federalism put properly and in a systematic and coherent way, they would recognise the right of the English people to have devolution in a considered way. As my noble friend Lady Adams said, it took us decades—I campaigned for it for decades until we got it for Scotland—and the people of England can wait for some time while we consider the issue in a proper and systematic way. I think that is, in the long term, the way to strengthen the union. Both Houses of this federal Parliament would deal with matters that are not devolved, but each constituent parliament or assembly, as part of the United Kingdom, would have devolved areas. That seems to me to be the long-term, stable solution.