§
24 Clause 15, page 7, line 18, at end insert—
("(4) The standing orders shall include provision Am the publication of a verbatim report of the proceedings of the Assembly as soon as practicable after the day on which they take place.")
§ The Commons agreed to the above Amendment and proposed the following Amendments thereto:
§ 25 Clause 15, page 7, Line 2, leave out ("verbatim")
§ 26 Clause 15, page 7, Line 2, at end insert ("full")
§ 4.15 p.m.
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 25 and 26 to the Lords Amendment No. 24. The Government remain of the view that was expressed at Report, that it is unnecessary to insert any requirement in the Bill about the reporting of proceedings. We think that the Assem 676 bly will undoubtedly make available a full report of its proceedings without statutory requirement. However, in view of the strength of feeling that was expressed in your Lordships' House that there should be a mandatory provision in the Bill, we are prepared to accept the Amendment in the revised form which has now been accepted by the other place without a Division.
As amended, the provision makes it mandatory for the Assembly to publish a report, but not necessarily a verbatim report, of the proceedings of the full Assembly. This is a similar requirement to that which was agreed in respect of the Scottish Assembly. It ensures that a report will he made available, but it leaves the Assembly to decide in precisely what form it should he made available.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 25 and 26 to the Lords Amendment No. 24.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
677§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, it seems to me that this is a happy occasion, in that what is supposed to happen between the Houses has happened. We had different views; we composed our differences; we arrived at a compromise; and the best of both worlds has been achieved. I welcome this Message.
§ Lord LLOYD of KILGERRANMy Lords, I should also like to welcome this Message. At the Committee stage I was in two minds as to whether or not a mandatory indication should be given to the Welsh Assembly about publication. I was personally in favour of a mandatory declaration to that effect. However, the wording of the Amendment that was before your Lordships' House at the earlier stage did not seem to me to be satisfactory, because of the inclusion of the word "verbatim". Now that the word "verbatim" has been deleted and now that it is to be left to the Assembly to decide the kind of report which the full Assembly shall make, I welcome these Amendments.