The Committee had evidence from the Electoral Reform Society and from the Electoral Commission. I would ask the hon. Gentleman to reread that evidence. It has been consistently argued that the Government have no empirical, objective evidence to support their case for introducing a ban on dual candidacy. That has...

The Committee had evidence from the Electoral Reform Society and from the Electoral Commission. I would ask the hon. Gentleman to reread that evidence. It has been consistently argued that the Government have no empirical, objective evidence to support their case for introducing a ban on dual candidacy. That has...

If I may correct the hon. Gentleman on a point of information, that evidence was given by the Electoral Commission, not the Electoral Reform Society. I can vouch for that as a member of the Committee.

If I may correct the hon. Gentleman on a point of information, that evidence was given by the Electoral Commission, not the Electoral Reform Society. I can vouch for that as a member of the Committee.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the ban on dual candidature would not change the distribution of a single seat and that the outcome of an election would be exactly the same? Gerrymandering involves one party using the system to obtain a disproportionate electoral advantage.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the ban on dual candidature would not change the distribution of a single seat and that the outcome of an election would be exactly the same? Gerrymandering involves one party using the system to obtain a disproportionate electoral advantage.

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Why does the hon. Gentleman think that our party is likely to lose out from these proposals? I know many of our candidates in marginal seats who will be at risk if they are not allowed to stand for the list seats as well as for constituencies. Can the hon....

Why does the hon. Gentleman think that our party is likely to lose out from these proposals? I know many of our candidates in marginal seats who will be at risk if they are not allowed to stand for the list seats as well as for constituencies. Can the hon....

The amendment is about the strength or otherwise of electoral mandates. As we have been discussing all evening, the Arbuthnott report on the situation in Scotland said clearly, on the Government’s proposals:"““The Commission believes that preventing dual candidacy would be undemocratic.””" Having looked at the Welsh example, it suggested that...

The amendment is about the strength or otherwise of electoral mandates. As we have been discussing all evening, the Arbuthnott report on the situation in Scotland said clearly, on the Government’s proposals:"““The Commission believes that preventing dual candidacy would be undemocratic.””" Having looked at the Welsh example, it suggested that...

I meant sympathetic to what I anticipate the Minister’s position will be.

I meant sympathetic to what I anticipate the Minister’s position will be.

Will the hon. Lady give way?

Will the hon. Lady give way?

: Amendment No. 33 makes sense to us on purely devolutionary grounds. I accept that there were different views on whether hunting with dogs should be curtailed, but—leaving aside the position that each of us took at the time—surely anyone who feels that Wales should have parity with Scotland in...

: Amendment No. 33 makes sense to us on purely devolutionary grounds. I accept that there were different views on whether hunting with dogs should be curtailed, but—leaving aside the position that each of us took at the time—surely anyone who feels that Wales should have parity with Scotland in...

: I shall speak to amendments Nos. 39, 40 and 43. We had a debate on similar matters last week, and I do not propose to speak for long—I see the Secretary of State grinning at that. I merely restate that it is high time to consider devolving the probation...

: I shall speak to amendments Nos. 39, 40 and 43. We had a debate on similar matters last week, and I do not propose to speak for long—I see the Secretary of State grinning at that. I merely restate that it is high time to consider devolving the probation...

indicated dissent.

indicated dissent.

Changing how we elect our Members of the European Parliament has not been a happy experience. From my vantage point in Welsh Labour, although I guess that this is generally true, I have noticed that individual Members of the European Parliament used to have a relationship with their constituency. They...

Changing how we elect our Members of the European Parliament has not been a happy experience. From my vantage point in Welsh Labour, although I guess that this is generally true, I have noticed that individual Members of the European Parliament used to have a relationship with their constituency. They...

I shall examine the matter afresh because the hon. Lady has a point. Since we are re-enacting a provision from the 1998 Act, we believed that the current provision was the right way in which to proceed, but I shall have another look at the matter.

I shall examine the matter afresh because the hon. Lady has a point. Since we are re-enacting a provision from the 1998 Act, we believed that the current provision was the right way in which to proceed, but I shall have another look at the matter.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me. This just goes to show how many voting systems we have on our small set of islands.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me. This just goes to show how many voting systems we have on our small set of islands.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman can explain his transformation on the road to Damascus on the subject of consultation. His party’s Government have displayed an utter and abject failure to consult on some profoundly important issues, stretching from—as one can predict—nuclear power, to reforms in the police service. Why does...

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman can explain his transformation on the road to Damascus on the subject of consultation. His party’s Government have displayed an utter and abject failure to consult on some profoundly important issues, stretching from—as one can predict—nuclear power, to reforms in the police service. Why does...

Can the hon. Gentleman point to one single benefit of STV, given that it is so damaging to any constituency link between Member and voter?

Can the hon. Gentleman point to one single benefit of STV, given that it is so damaging to any constituency link between Member and voter?

Six days ago, I was stopped mid-sentence when referring to Splott market, and hon. Members may or may not recall that the purpose of my mentioning the market in Splott or any other marketplace in Wales was to try to bring to the House’s attention the fact that constitutional matters,...

Six days ago, I was stopped mid-sentence when referring to Splott market, and hon. Members may or may not recall that the purpose of my mentioning the market in Splott or any other marketplace in Wales was to try to bring to the House’s attention the fact that constitutional matters,...

Not all of them. The Welsh Courts Act 1942 allowed the use of Welsh in the courts, while the Welsh Language Act 1967 provided for the equal validity of anything said in Welsh or English. It conferred a kind of honorary status on the Welsh language. I have already mentioned...

Not all of them. The Welsh Courts Act 1942 allowed the use of Welsh in the courts, while the Welsh Language Act 1967 provided for the equal validity of anything said in Welsh or English. It conferred a kind of honorary status on the Welsh language. I have already mentioned...

I thank the Secretary of State for his response, and I take many of his points. He will accept that there is still dissatisfaction among Opposition Members, and a great deal of worry, about the consequences of the steps that the First Minister proposes to take in respect of the...

I thank the Secretary of State for his response, and I take many of his points. He will accept that there is still dissatisfaction among Opposition Members, and a great deal of worry, about the consequences of the steps that the First Minister proposes to take in respect of the...

Given the time pressures, I do not intend to reiterate what the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams) said in relation to amendments Nos. 13 and 16, which we have supported. At the very least, those are important probing amendments, to which the Secretary of State should respond. We are...

Given the time pressures, I do not intend to reiterate what the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams) said in relation to amendments Nos. 13 and 16, which we have supported. At the very least, those are important probing amendments, to which the Secretary of State should respond. We are...