Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]

The question of reappointment in Amendment No. 3 is perfectly acceptable. Whether there will be a reappointment is, of course, up to the Assembly and anyway opens the door for the possibility of a reappointment. Amendment No. 4, which substitutes ““met to qualify”” for ““fulfilled””, seems a little esoteric, but it will none the less tighten up the Bill and we do not object to that. Regarding Amendment No. 5, I was looking around for the word ““first””. Perhaps my copy of the Bill does not include it, but perhaps the Minister can correct me. However, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Roberts of Conwy, that an initial five-year term would be a sensible period. We have no objection to that. Obviously, regarding Amendment No. 8 and the question of gratuities, if the commissioner is to receive a decent pension, the word ““gratuities”” does not seem to be relevant. We would need a powerful explanation of what that word means to be convinced that it was acceptable. After all, most public servants receive a worthwhile pension and we see no need for the word ““gratuities””.