Government of Wales Bill

moved Amendment No. 64:"Page 57, line 23, at end insert—" ““(   )   The Secretary of State shall lay a draft Order under subsection (6) not later than 30th June 2010.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, the Bill contains no clear timetable for the move to the legislative powers set out in Part 4. Such a timetable was a major recommendation of the Richard report. The amendment requires the Secretary of State to lay a draft order for a referendum by 30 June 2010. That should allow time for the referendum to be held in time for the Assembly expected to be elected in 2011 to assume the powers contained in Part 4. No clear timescale is indicated in the Bill. We feel strongly that there should be a progression and some indication of when the referendum would take place. It is a logical procedure; there will be an election to the Assembly next year, so it will have run for three years by 2010. Tomorrow’s Wales is very keen to see this amendment accepted. I remind the House that Tomorrow’s Wales contains representation from all parties and none; it is chaired by the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Wales. I beg to move.