§ 8. Mr. Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)If he will make a statement on the preparation of concordats between the National Assembly and Whitehall Departments. [88530]
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Alun Michael)The UK Government expect to send a draft memorandum of understanding and related concordats to the Assembly Cabinet shortly for its consideration. These documents will set out administrative arrangements designed to secure the smooth operation of the devolution settlement.
§ Mr. RowlandsDuring the referendum debates, we made a clear commitment to the people of Wales that there would be a Secretary of State for Wales in this House answerable for all oversight matters in Welsh affairs and other Government Departments. Given the shambles that has occurred this afternoon, will my right hon. Friend make it clear that the Secretary of State for Wales will be accountable and answerable in this House for oversight matters in other Government Departments when they relate to Welsh matters?
§ Mr. MichaelThe only shambles this afternoon has been that hon. Members—mainly Opposition Members—have not understood that devolution has taken place and have asked questions on matters that are for the Assembly, and not for this House.
The answer that I gave indicates that concordats will deal with the relationships between Government Departments and the Assembly, and that will provide the necessary clarity. In many cases, it will be a matter for the Assembly and the Secretaries of State with other responsibilities. However, there is an important role for the Secretary of State for Wales and that will continue.
§ Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)Is it not a fine state of affairs when a former Welsh Office Minister of the status of the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) sees fit to describe the present arrangements as a shambles? Does not that only go to show what happens when a Government impose, for ideological reasons, a system that is not wanted by the majority of the people in Wales and which squeaked through by only 6,000 votes in the whole country on a tiny turnout, despite the Prime Minister begging his Labour supporters in Wales to let the proposal go through?
§ Mr. MichaelThat question was asked with the flavour of bitterness, arising from the hon. Gentleman's knowledge that his party was swept away so completely at the general election that it does not have a single representative in Wales. Events this afternoon have 1020 demonstrated that the Conservatives have not understood the responsibilities that have been transferred to the National Assembly for Wales, where they are being taken up with vigour. The settlement was not imposed—it was voted on by the people of Wales in a referendum. The hon. Gentleman waving his arms in the Chamber will not change that fact.
§ Mr. Paul Flynn (Newport, West)When the Secretary of State for Wales next meets the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly, will he convey the happiness and congratulations of this House on the splendid start made by the National Assembly, which has resulted in growing approval for the idea of devolution in Wales, a new sense of pride and identity in the Welsh nation and, to our great satisfaction, the marginalisation of the Tory party?
§ Mr. MichaelI thank my hon. Friend for his remarks. I will make sure that they are passed on not just to the First Secretary, but to other Members of the Assembly. His remarks will be appreciated.