Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I am not an historian or a social scientist. I am a lay man whose first language is Welsh and whose roots are deep in Welsh-speaking Wales. In preparation for this debate, I sought the help of the Library. It was, of course, immediately forthcoming. It provided me with a helpful background document that includes the Prime Minister's Fabian Society lecture on the future of...
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, reference has been made to my noble friend Lord Elystan-Morgan. He very much regrets that he is unable to be present today, but he is presiding over the degree-awarding ceremony at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, which is a very important event in the university calendar.
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, for my part, I am deeply grateful to my noble friend Lord Evans and to the Government for tabling this amendment. I am very happy to accept the amendment and the Welsh Language Board is also satisfied. I believe that it satisfies all the objectives of the amendment which I have been pursuing with the Government for some weeks. In particular, in view of the comments of the noble...
Lord Prys-Davies: I, too, have been baffled by that wording and I had so informed the BMA in Wales. It appears to me that this is either a decision for the legislature or for the Executive. I am puzzled that the matter should be addressed to the First Minister.
Lord Prys-Davies: My noble friend on the Front Bench made the fair point that it may not be for this Bill to prescribe how the Welsh Assembly is to make its legislation accessible. I accept that, but the problem remains. I shall give one example of it: the direction powers issued by the Welsh Assembly Government to housing associations in Wales. I understand that the Library of the Welsh Assembly has confirmed...
Lord Prys-Davies: Notwithstanding that injunction by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy, I should like to take the time of the Committee in fully supporting this important amendment. I deeply regret that it has been necessary to bring such an amendment before the Committee, but I fully support the principle on which it is based. That principle is set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), which...
Lord Prys-Davies: I, too, would be grateful if the Minister could clarify a point that arises from the contribution made by my noble friend Lord Rowlands. My question relates to the provision in the order enabling the Assembly to give financial support to the air industry. Let us take that one example. Do I understand my noble friend on the Front Bench to say, "We'll start with the pre-legislative scrutiny and...
Lord Prys-Davies: I thank the noble Lords, Lord Crickhowell and Lord Roberts of Llandudno, for their support. However, I confess that the response of my noble friend was disappointing. He has spoken once again of tensions within the current government, but we are legislating for the future. My noble friend has failed to explain why a duty to promote the language is deemed to be unnecessary. Sadly, the...
Lord Prys-Davies: I rise to speak in support of Amendment No. 53 in this group. I agree with almost every word uttered by the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy. He is an immense authority on the modern legal status of the Welsh language, he being the author of the expression, "treating both languages on the grounds of equality". The amendment addresses itself to the two significant issues which I raised at...
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Richard for the report produced two years ago by his committee under his masterly chairmanship. The committee reviewed the working of the Government of Wales Act 1998. It is my belief that, without the commission's report, we would not today have before us a Bill to make provisions about the Government of Wales, if I may use the term in the Long...
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, my noble friend Lord Rowlands first alerted your Lordships to the mischief in Clause 6 as drawn. I am sure that he will be particularly gratified that the Government have tabled this amendment. I welcome it wholeheartedly.
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I am extremely grateful to my noble friend for having tabled Amendment No. 3. On the other hand, I regret that the areas to be researched are restricted. They are important limitations. Nevertheless, Amendment No. 3 will be an important facility in the hands of the commissioner, and I am grateful to the Government for tabling the amendment.
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I want to express my support for both of the amendments. The commissioner should be able to cross the boundary between the devolved and the non-devolved functions of government. As the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, has just said, we debated similar amendments when the Children's Commissioner for Wales Bill was before the House, but they were firmly rejected. I understand that that is...
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I warmly support the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Rowlands. As he has so clearly explained, under the Bill the procedure for the investigation of complaints against the commissioner is designed by the commissioner himself. It is designed by the person against whom the complaint is made. Unless the procedure is approved by an independent third party or the Assembly, there...
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response, although I am disappointed with what he had to say. Nevertheless I will have to study very carefully the contents of his answer in deciding whether to return to this issue at Third Reading. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Lord Prys-Davies: moved Amendment No. 28: Page 7, line 29, leave out "may" and insert "must"
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I start from the standpoint that the guidance on best practice is potentially an enormous and important tool for the commissioner. It is my understanding of general law that the commissioner could issue a non-statutory code of practice without being empowered to do so in any Act of Parliament; it is an implied power. I am pleased that the guidance is to be issued on the exercise of...
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, on the whole, what my noble friend said was reassuring. Accordingly, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Lord Prys-Davies: My Lords, I should have welcomed Amendment No. 30, tabled by the Government. The requirement in that amendment is very helpful, because it will mean that the authorities are to take the guidance with considerable seriousness. So that is a strong obligation. Nevertheless, a minority of authorities will not behave as well as they should, so we will still possibly have difficulties. I note what...
Lord Prys-Davies: moved Amendment No. 22: After Clause 6, insert the following new clause— "UNDERTAKING OR ASSISTING RESEARCH The Commissioner may undertake or assist (financially or otherwise) the undertaking by a body or other persons of any research and any educational activities which appear to the Commissioner necessary or expedient for the purposes of section 2."
