Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]

I heard what the noble Lord, Lord Rowlands, has just said and if one takes note, in particular, of what the noble Lord, Lord Prys-Davies, said, there is no doubt that the Assembly is in a Catch-22 situation. No doubt many Members of the Assembly would like to accept the kind of proposals that we are putting forward in these amendments but they are unable to do so. I said exactly the same as the Minister when I moved the amendment—that is, that the devolution settlement was specific to the powers that had been devolved to Wales. None the less, there are huge problems for the elderly which have to be resolved. I do not want to rock the elderly boat too much so that the elderly are seasick as a result of this discussion; on the other hand, I sense that the Minister may have information that he cannot fully divulge, although he has given us quite a lot concerning the process of consultation between the Assembly and Westminster. I shall reluctantly withdraw the amendment, but I am sure we will discuss it further at the later stages of the Bill.