The Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Lord Vallance of Balham) (Lab)

My Lords, I will make a brief statement on the devolution status of the Bill. Parts 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the Bill include provisions within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Senedd Cymru and the Scottish Parliament. On 22 October, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology wrote to counterparts in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, seeking their agreement to initiate the legislative consent process and to support a legislative consent Motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd Cymru. Since the beginning of the Bill’s passage, my officials have been in regular contact with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government. We are hopeful that the legislative consent process will progress swiftly over the coming weeks, ahead of Report in the other place. Although it has not been possible to secure consent by this time, I take this opportunity to thank officials in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and express my gratitude for the close working throughout the passage of the Bill. We remain committed to sustained engagement on the Bill with all three devolved Administrations as it progresses through Parliament. Amendment 1