Cheryl Gillan (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Wales; Chesham & Amersham, Conservative)

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

New clause 1 is purely inspired by the so-called bonfire of the quangos, which has not escaped the notice of many people in Wales. It has caused some controversy, and in the new clause I seek to put the Assembly firmly back in the driving seat so that if at any stage it wished upon itself the demise of the commissioner’s office it would be able to effect it. It may be, for example, that the Government in their wisdom want to appoint a commissioner for England and Wales jointly because it has proved such an excellent idea in Wales. In that case, the Bill would need to be removed from the statute book and a new Bill perhaps introduced. Or the Auditor General, using his powers under paragraph 13 of schedule 1, might carry out an examination and report that resources have not been used efficiently or effectively. The new clause would give the Assembly a sanction against the organisation in that eventuality.

The new clause would put the Assembly back in control. I do not mind if the Minister thinks it is not fit for purpose and wishes to table his own amendment on Report to ensure that the Assembly has the power to set light to this particular quango without too much controversy if it so wishes.

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