§ 7. Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the use of proportional representation in the elections for an assembly in Wales. [7001]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI have received several such representations.
§ Mr. GibbDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that any use of PR using a list system would give tremendous power to the Labour party machine? The right hon. Gentleman talks glibly about transferring power from Westminster to the people of Wales, but he would be transferring power from the people of Wales to himself and his Labour colleagues who are in charge of the Labour party list.
§ Mr. DaviesNo. I reject that entirely. The hon. Gentleman is new to Welsh Question Time, and I welcome him. It is clear, however, that he does not understand the system of PR that is the Labour party's policy. The Labour party will not benefit from these proposals. The Conservative party, which has 20 per cent. of the vote in Wales but no parliamentary representation, would benefit. Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats would be the main beneficiaries.