Clause 5 - Referendums: frequency
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
It is precisely because we want to ensure that conclusions can be drawn swiftly and finally that there are provisions not only in this Bill, but in a weight of previous referendum legislation. Incidentally, such provisions were not always opposed by Conservative Members. The hon. Gentleman says that two wrongs do not necessarily make a right, but there are five specific examples of how legislation has set precedents: section 4 of the Referendum Act 1975, schedule 17(10) of the Scotland Act 1978, schedule 12(11) of the Wales Act 1978, section 4 of the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Act 1997 and section 6 of the Greater London Authority (Referendum) Act 1998.
Our purpose is to ensure a swift and final decision and a firm conclusion, so that the views of the public can immediately inform the decisions that are subsequently made by the Government.