Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the concordats to be drawn up between departments of the United Kingdom Government and the National Assembly for Wales. [32534]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe White Paper "A Voice for Wales" noted that the Assembly would need to work in close partnership with those Whitehall departments responsible for developing policies or preparing secondary legislation for England, on matters which in Wales, would be the responsibility of the Assembly. It also noted that the Assembly's officials and their Whitehall counterparts would need to consult each other on a range of issues; the basis of the consultations would be set out in concordats.
The Government have produced guidance setting out the principles which might govern the concordats. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.