Scotland Bill

Lord Sutherland of Houndwood Excerpts

Wednesday 21st March 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Tankerness]

My Lords, I am quickly trying to look at the draft Section 30 order that was attached to the consultation. It provides for just one referendum.

[Lord Sutherland of Houndwood]

May I ask the Minister a question? He may not want to answer it, but clarification would be helpful. He referred to the Government’s belief in the importance of a single direct question. Is that a belief or a sticking point? There is a big difference between the two, and for some of us it would be a sticking point. That is the point raised by the noble Lords, Lord Reid and Lord Foulkes. We have not yet solved the West Lothian question with the current legislation. This Bill will enhance that question in the minds of many people across the whole of the UK. If we were to go further in some undefined form of devo-max, the difficulties would be greater, so I take him back to his point about fairness.