Government of Wales Bill

moved Amendment No. 102:"Page 68, line 1, at end insert ““under section 117(2)””" The noble Baroness said: I shall be brief with this probing amendment, too. It amends Clause 124 by adding ““under section 117(2)”” at the end of subsection (3)(b). Clause 117 sets out how money can be paid into the Welsh Consolidated Fund. Clause 124 picks that up in relation to the annual budget motion which requires, under subsection (3), a statement of ““payments”” to the Welsh Government—although in common parlance we are talking about the Welsh Government’s receipts that come largely from the UK Government. Paragraph (a) specifically refers to Clause 117(1) in respect of those payments. That covers payments from the Secretary of State out of voted money. But paragraph (b) refers to payments made by Ministers of the Crown to Welsh Ministers and others. The words seem identical to those in Clause 117(2), but there is no reference to Clause 117(2), which raises the question of why there is that difference in drafting. Is it possible that Ministers of the Crown will make payments to Welsh Ministers other than within the powers of Clause 117(2)? If so, in what circumstances and under what powers will that happen? This probing amendment is designed to illuminate the sources of finance which will be covered by the annual budget motion. Is Part 5 of the Bill a comprehensive statement of the sources of finance for the Welsh Government or not? If not, what else is involved? I beg to move.