My Lords, I support in particular Amendments 105 and 127 in this group, but I shall speak briefly to Amendment 105 and thank the noble Baroness, Lady Wheeler, for introducing this short debate on it. In the context of the proposal for a requirement to consult the devolved Assemblies, I share the concern expressed by my noble and learned friend Lord Mackay of Clashfern: it is essential that we keep all the devolved Assemblies in tune with Westminster thinking as the Bill and the regulations under it progress.
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Will my noble friend the Minister please explain what form of consultation he imagines will take place in preparation for the regulations under the Bill? What
timeframe will be allowed for the consultation? What regard will the Government and his department have to the result of the consultation? Also, will the responses to the consultation be published? In my experience, every consultation from the Government solicits many responses, particularly on controversial issues. I think this will excite a lot of interest as well. Are the Government now out of the habit of publishing responses to consultations, rather than their brief resumé of them? Are they inclined to revert to the former practice of publishing all the results, which I think is enormously helpful?
With those few words, I support the sentiments behind Amendments 105 and 127, but I am concerned that there should be proper consultation over a 12-week period, and that the results of and responses to the consultation will be published for us all to read.