Government response
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE PROCEDURE COMMITTEE'S
REPORT ON JOINT ACTIVITIES WITH THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES
The Government is grateful to the Procedure Committee
for its timely report on joint activities with the National Assembly
for Wales.
The Government agrees with the Committee's view that
the forthcoming pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Transport
(Wales) Bill provides a suitable experiment for joint working
before considering whether this should be permitted more widely
on legislation in relation to Wales. It accepts the Committee's
recommendation that
a) Until the end of the current Parliament, the
Welsh Affairs Committee should be authorised to invite members
of any specified committee of the National Assembly for Wales
to attend and participate in its proceedings (but not to vote),
subject to a quorum of both committees being present;
b) During such proceedings, use of the Welsh
language should be allowed in all circumstances, with the National
Assembly providing interpreters and transcription of Welsh language
contributions.
I am today tabling a motion to approve the Committee's
report and to give effect to this recommendation. I anticipate
that there will be an opportunity to debate the Committee's report
on Monday 7 June.
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