Jacqui Lait (Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government; Beckenham, Conservative)

On a point of order, Mr. Illsley, would it be in order to ask the Government when we can expect to see the consultation on the draft regulations on the community infrastructure levy? I understand the need to press on so that we can spend as much time on the measures as they deserve, but until we have seen the draft consultation it will be difficult to debate the clauses in any depth and with any knowledge of how the bodies concerned will be affected and what their reaction will be. May I also ask when we can expect to see the clauses relating to the powers of the Welsh Assembly?

I welcome you back to the Chair, Mr. Illsley, and hope that you are not as croaky as you sound and are not suffering too much from the bug that many people have.

Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central, Labour)

That is not a point of order for the Chair; it is a point for debate and for the Government.

John Healey (Minister of State (Local Government), Department for Communities and Local Government; Wentworth, Labour)

On a point of information, we propose to publish, as we have signalled, a consultation document that will flesh out that issue in more detail and help the Committee in its consideration of the details of the community infrastructure levy when we get to that point in the proceedings. That consultation will look at how we propose to develop the community infrastructure levy, but not at the draft regulations requested by the hon. Lady, which will clearly come later. I will ensure that that is published in good time so that members of the Committee can consider it alongside any amendments which they might wish to propose when we come to that part of the Bill.

In relation to matters affecting the powers of the Welsh Assembly Government, the hon. Lady will already have heard me say that that relates to a later stage in the Bill. She will have heard me give an undertaking that any Government amendments will be tabled within the conventional times for the Committee. I will endeavour to do better than that, and aim to ensure that any Government amendments are tabled a week in advance of the likely proceedings. Clearly, that will depend on the progress that we make in Committee, but I hope that that is helpful to the hon. Lady and to members of the Committee.

David Jones (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Wales; Clwyd West, Conservative)

Further to that point of order—

Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central, Labour)

Order. There is no point of order.

David Jones (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Wales; Clwyd West, Conservative)

On a point of order, Mr. Illsley. The Minister referred again to the devolution of powers to the Welsh Assembly Government, but I am perturbed that, as I understood the briefing held by the Wales Office some three weeks ago, we are also talking about the devolution of legislative competence to the Welsh Assembly, which is rather more significant. Will the Minister please explain whether the Government still intend to include devolutionary powers in the Bill?

Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central, Labour)

That is simply a matter for debate and can be dealt with during the consideration of the Bill. I am grateful to the Minister for enlightening us on the community infrastructure levy.