Government of Wales Bill

My Lords, I welcome particularly the Government’s amendments to Clause 161 and Schedule 11 in response to the points raised by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. The noble Lord will recall that I drew attention to the Committee’s views on the importance of the transitional provisions in the schedule on our third day in Committee. In fact, I pleaded for the affirmative procedure to apply to orders modifying Schedule 11. The schedule was amended by the Government in Committee and is further amended now in order to clarify the need for the affirmative procedure for orders under paragraphs 28 to 33 and 47 and 48, which concern the power to amend Schedule 5 to the Bill. These amendments are very important and we shall look carefully at them again before Third Reading. This seems an appropriate moment to thank the Ministers, the noble Lords, Lord Davies of Oldham and Lord Evans of Temple Guiting, for the way in which they have dealt with our amendments over these two days. I also thank my noble friends who have shared the heat of the two days on the Front Bench and my noble friends who participated from the Back Benches. Indeed, I thank all noble Lords from all parts of the House who have contributed to Report stage.