MPs were, to put it at its mildest, somewhat surprised when a press release from Peter Hain appeared on the Wales Office website on Tuesday evening announcing that:
A Welsh Grand Debate on the Welsh Affairs Committee report on the Welsh Language Order, expected for publication in the next fortnight, will be held on Wednesday, July 8, to allow MPs to fully debate the content and scope of the Order and its proposed impact on Wales, particularly Welsh business and industry.
Regular readers will know that I am a strong supporter of the Grand Committee and approved wholeheartedly of Paul Murphy’s decision to increase the frequency of its meetings. However, even I raised an eyebrow at the prospect of a Grand Committee debate on July 8.
The problem, you see, is that the Welsh Affairs Committee hasn’t reported yet. It is likely to do so in the relatively near future, but for the Wales Office to arrange a debate before the report is even published looked a tad premature.
The response of the committee’s chairman, Hywel Francis, to the announcement was a study in glacial pique. He has, quite simply, told Peter Hain where to get off:
“I have informed him he will need to consult with me and the opposition parties before a Welsh Grand Committee can meet to discuss my Committee’s Report.”
Hain has now done a swift U-turn and confirmed that the debate has been called off.
And the Wales Office’s excuse for not consulting the chairman? Well, they did try to give him a quick bell, but couldn’t contact him because he’d lost his mobile phone.
Perhaps, just perhaps, they might consider a letter or even an e-mail next time round.
“couldn’t contact him because he’d lost his mobile phone.”
Watch out for the claim for a new mobile phone in the next accounts!