Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [Lords]

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is not recognising the devolution settlement. The devolution settlement—for which the people of Wales voted, albeit narrowly, in a referendum in which he and I were on the same side in campaigning for a yes vote—did not include the devolution of pensions. Of course it did not. Nor did it include tax and social security policy and a lot of other things. Therefore, it would be entirely wrong to give the older person’s commissioner for Wales powers and duties in respect of non-devolved matters Equally, however, the commissioner will be able to make representations to me, as the Secretary of State, or to the hon. Gentleman, as a local Member of Parliament, and Westminster Members and Ministers can take up those matters. For example, if a patient is placed by a Welsh commissioning authority—a local council or health authority—across the border in an old persons’ home or perhaps a hospital and complaints arise, the older person’s commissioner will also be able to make representations to the Welsh commissioning body for it to take up with the provider across the border in England. It is interesting that the children’s commissioner for England and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales have worked out satisfactory co-operation arrangements, and all those sorts of things will be possible in future, on a common-sense basis.