Government of Wales Bill

My Lords, there have been a number of late developments since we last discussed this important issue in Committee. The amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, which was so ably presented by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Llandudno, would insert a new clause in the Bill. A letter from the First Minister attempts to deal with our concerns. As the noble Lord said, those concerns were brought to our attention by the Law Society, the BMA, the British Dental Association and other organisations, to which we are grateful. In Committee, I expressed my concern about non-statutory legislation passed and not registered between 1999 and the end of 2005. It is estimated that there are about 6,000 items. The Minister said:"““We have arrangements for UK legislation as a whole, and I hope that it will be recognised that any arrangements that need to be made in Wales are a matter for Welsh Ministers and not for this Bill””.—[Official Report, 6/6/06; col. 1222.]" The First Minister’s letter, which was circulated to us by the noble Lord, Lord Evans of Temple Guiting, indicates that the Assembly and its Government accept the responsibility as theirs. We have a fairly detailed statement of the steps already taken and the further steps ahead. I am particularly concerned about the missing years 1999 to 2005. The First Minister says:"““I have commissioned a feasibility study to consider the issue of indexing the non-statutory instrument subordinate legislation made between 1999 and 2005  . . . this will be an extensive exercise””." He also states that key stakeholders will be thoroughly engaged. I presume that by ““key stakeholders”” he means such bodies as the Law Society and the BMA. I am reasonably satisfied with those assurances and with the knowledge that the First Minister accepts responsibility on behalf of the Assembly Government. This is clearly a matter for the Assembly to pursue as part of the task of holding the Government to account. If I find I am mistaken, which I do not think I shall be, I shall return to the issue at Third Reading.