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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Motion to Approve a Legislative Consent Motion under Standing Order No. 26.4, in respect of the Personal Care at Home Bill
January 12, 2010 12:00 AM
By Peter Black in Plenary
By Peter Black in Plenary
Peter Black: Roll on 9 February.
I do not accept that the amendment tabled by the Conservatives shows that the process is not understood, because it does not say that some part of the process has been ignored or not carried out properly, it says that they regret the fact that we have not had the opportunity to consider the provisions in the Bill. There is a debate tomorrow on the Subordinate Legislation Committee's report on the way in which the process can be changed to make it more accountable and more transparent. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are taking these amendments in the spirit in which they are intended, which is pointing towards that report and consideration of how the provisions within that report should be adopted so that we have a proper constitution committee in the Assembly that can look at all aspects of legislation, including those aspects of legislation where we are asking the UK Government to legislate on our behalf so that we can get proper scrutiny and proper input from Members into that process, as well as scrutinising the role of Welsh Ministers, which is desperately needed as we move forward, unless we get the yes vote in a referendum, which I think we are all hoping will be happening in the autumn of this year. However, until we get to that point, we are in a situation where some Measures are being passed by us, LCOs are being made, Bills are being passed that are passing powers down to us and there are issues such as these, where we are passing powers back to Westminster so that it can pass legislation on our behalf. It is a huge muddle, and it is difficult to keep track of it. There is a need for greater transparency and accountability.
On the substance of the Bill, and the motion before us, I support anything that gives Ministers wider powers. The Liberal Democrats will be supporting the motion. It is important that the powers that are going to be available to English Ministers are also available to Welsh Minsters. Although I was critical of the consultation paper being a copy of the English consultation paper, I am hopeful that, as a result of that process, we will be getting distinctly Welsh proposals about how we can take forward personal care and access to it in Wales. I am interested in how the Deputy Minister is proposing to pay for it, given the current financial climate and the financial climate that we are moving into. However, I could also say that of the UK Government as well. That is something that we have to see in future.
In summary, I am happy to support the motion. I will also be supporting the amendment on the basis that I have just explained.
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