WRITTEN RESPONSES TO RICHARD COMMISSION
CONSULTATION
|
|
Letter received from Lord Livsey of Talgarth
dated 25 July 2003
|
|
New
joint responsibilities of the Secretary of State
for Wales, and the creation of the Department of Constitutional
Affairs.
|
| Clearly, the recent developments
listed above as part of a new UK constitutional reform
package impact considerably on the National Assembly for
Wales. These reforms have taken place since I gave evidence
to the Richard Commission in May. If I may, I would like
to comment briefly on these developments as an addendum
to my evidence. |
| The post of Secretary of State
for Wales must be retained as long as the National Assembly
for Wales does not possess primary legislative powers. |
| If, hopefully, the Commission
recommends to the Government that the National Assembly
be given the power of primary legislation, and the Government
acts upon that recommendation, then the position of the
Secretary of State for Wales could be reviewed. |
| The current combination of
a Secretary of State for Wales, who is also Leader of
the House of Commons, substantially detracts from the
position of Secretary of State. He has more than enough
to do negotiating the block grant for Wales, bringing
forward primary legislative Bills for Wales, and inserting
sections on Wales into other Government Bills. This is
to say nothing of ensuring that Welsh legislation appears
in the Queen's Speech, and many other responsibilities.
I know from my own experience that the Leader of the House
of Commons is a full-time job in its own right. |
| The position of Secretary
of State for Wales must be a stand-alone responsibility
represented in the cabinet. This should continue to be
the case for as long as the first Wales Act remains in
its current form. |
| The creation of a Department
of Constitutional Affairs is, in my view, a logical development.
My main reservation about it, is the clumsy way in which
it was introduced, with insufficient consultation. |
| The power of the Secretary
of State for this Department has yet to be tested as far
as Wales is concerned. This is a strong reason why a stand-alone
Secretary of State for Wales, with his or her own Department,
should remain as a powerful advocate for Wales inside
Government, and also in the Cabinet. |
| Finally, if the Richard Commission
recommends, and it is enacted that Wales gains primary
legislative powers, then obviously, there may be
a case for reorganisation in Westminster concerning
the Department of Constitutional Affairs. I would also
repeat the statement contained in my previous evidence
session: there should be no reduction
in the number of Welsh MPs until the National Assembly
obtains primary legislative powers. |
| Thank you very much indeed
for your kind and courteous attention. |
Richard Livsey
Lord Livsey of Talgarth |
|
|
|
