Government of Wales Bill

My Lords, I was grateful for the support of the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, on the previous amendment. Although he supported a two-thirds majority to prevent a premature referendum, his amendment includes an arbitrary timescale. The Government do not oscillate between these two positions but are consistent. Our view is that there will need to be judgment on when the referendum should be taken so that damage is not done to the Assembly and the existing devolution settlement by a result against such enhancement of powers. Of course noble Lords can disagree with this vision. The noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, has been his usual eloquent self in identifying what he disagrees with. But the Liberal Democrat Members cannot have it both ways. If they agree it is intelligent that there should be judgment about this under a majority of support by elected Members of Parliament to take decisions on when the referendum should be held, there cannot be a case for an arbitrary time limit. That is why the noble Lord should withdraw the amendment.