Welsh Assembly

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:30 pm on 22 July 1997.

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Photo of Dominic Grieve Dominic Grieve Conservative, Beaconsfield 3:30, 22 July 1997

I note that the White Paper states that, when the Assembly is set up The Secretary of State … will not … be accountable for the activities of the Welsh Assembly". That is the central point over which the right hon. Gentleman skated in answering the question raised by my right hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram). If the Secretary of State is no longer accountable to the Welsh Assembly, how do we, as the elected representatives of the United Kingdom Parliament, maintain scrutiny over secondary legislation passed by the Assembly?

At present, we can call the Secretary of State to account. Under the proposed system, however, we will not be able to do so. If that is the case, why should any Welsh Member of Parliament have the right to participate in any debate on matters concerning other parts of the United Kingdom?