UK Parliament / Open data

Wales Bill

Proceeding contribution from Lord Thomas of Gresford (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Monday, 24 November 2014. It occurred during Debate on bills on Wales Bill.

My Lords, I have been talking about devolution and independence with the noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, since around 1962

when we were both solicitors in Wrexham. Indeed, I even voted for him in 1964 when he was a Plaid Cymru candidate. The noble Lord, Lord Elis-Thomas, will be interested to know that. Thereafter we developed our ideas on devolution and it was those ideas, which we produced in 1967 in a Bill in the House of Commons and here that was taken up and considered by the Kilbrandon commission, to which I gave evidence. I say all this because of the history that everyone has been giving.

This Bill is just a step; it is not the end. I notice today that the Glasgow Herald says that the intention of the Smith commission is to introduce votes at 16 for the next Scottish Parliament elections. If that happens in Scotland, I am sure it is going to happen in Wales. Similarly, it has been said that Scotland may very well be looking for an airport tax. If that happens in Scotland, to the delight of the noble Lord, Lord Rowe-Beddoe, it will necessarily come to Wales as well. There are further steps to be taken before we have the complete and satisfactory home rule that the noble Lord and I dreamed of over 50 years ago.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

757 cc699-700 

Session

2014-15

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber
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