Member

We call for these Conservative amendments to be rejected out of hand. The noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, is more constructive, as we can see from his later amendments. He accepts the argument—as expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan—that the Government are in the process of delicate negotiations which the transfer of management to the Welsh Government immediately might interrupt. He is proposing a transitional period during which the existing commissioners must consult and take into account the views of Welsh Ministers and provide them—with a view to transparency—with all the information they require concerning capital and income, direct expenses and costs. He rightly wishes to challenge the suggestion that it is all too difficult to sort out, and we support him entirely. However, we would like clarity from the Minister as to what precise negotiations would currently be affected if the Bill as drafted came into force.