HL Deb 27 July 1978 vol 395 cc979-80

23 Page 25, line 12, leave out "with the approval of the Secretary of State and".

The Commons disagree to the above Amendment but propose the following Amendments in lieu thereof:

24 Page 25, line 4, leave out from first 'Assembly' to 'provide' in line 5 and insert 'a Minister of the Crown may by order'.

25 Page 25, line 6, leave out 'it' and insert 'he'.

26 Page 25, line 10, leave out 'Assembly' and insert Minister making the order'.

27 Page 25, line 12, leave out from 'except' to end of line 13 and insert 'at the request of the Assembly and after the Assembly has consulted'.

28 Page 25, line 15, leave out subsection (4).

4.51 p.m.

The LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I beg to move that this House doth not insist on their Amendment No. 23 to which the Commons have disagreed, and doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 24 to 28 in lieu thereof. The previous Amendments, that an order made under Clause 60 should he subject to Parliamentary scrutiny—that is to say, Affirmative Resolution by both Houses—we have considered and agreed to. The Government, however, believe that if the Amendments as they then stood had remained, they would have resulted in the Assembly's order being put to Parliament, and the view that we have take is that it is desirable that the link between the Assembly and Parliament should be through the Secretary of State. I think that that is the common view in the House as a whole.

To achieve that result another place has proposed a modified procedure whereby the Assembly puts its proposals to the Secretary of State. If he agrees with the proposals he will lay an order before Parliament for approval by the Affirmative Resolution procedure. Your Lordships may think that that is a further improvement on giving effective Parliamentary and ministerial control in this clearly very important field. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House doth not insist on their Amendment No. 23 to which the Commons have disagreed and doth agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 24 to 28 in lieu thereof. —(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.