Can I very much welcome David’s response to the statement, and can I just put on record my appreciation, not only of his approach to the work of the committee, but also of other Members as well? It is genuinely a committee that strives in a hugely non-partisan way to look at the effective operation of both our constitution and the legislation we see in front of us, and that does make it a strangely enjoyable experience in the way that we approach the thing. But also it’s certainly true as well, as I know is the same on other committees, that it benefits as well from the wealth of experience—not least, I have to say, having a former Chair of this committee as well who has seen a long history and evolution of these matters. It’s quite exciting as well, as David has flagged up, to see that the process doesn’t stop when we look at issues such as codification, and I agree with him, it’s great to see here the Counsel General sitting in as we discuss this, because, as we’ve mentioned on previous occasions, whilst we have to be very careful and considered in how we take pioneering work forward, the issue of codification done well and in a thoughtful way could mean that this legislature is at the absolute forefront of simplifying and clarifying live, real-time, updated legislation that is understandable, not simply to the barristers of this world, but to the people who live next door to me on my street as well, so they can pick it up and work with it, and that’s surely what we should be trying to do.

I welcome very much, as well—and I think he is quite right in saying this—the fact that we do usually see good practice from Welsh Government, and we’re not averse within the committee to recognising that in our reports. Sometimes, I know, Ministers will say, ‘Oh, you’ve been a bit harsh’ on this or that or the other, but we do recognise where there is good practice, and there is good practice within Welsh Government. Our role and, certainly, when I referred to the little things—curiously, it is the minutia that we focus on that actually drives that progressive improvement as well. So, to the Counsel General, or to the business manager in front of us, or other Ministers that might be listening, my soft apologies that occasionally we are the grit in the oyster, but, actually, that means that we move forward and we improve the legislation that we do have.

He mentioned as well—David mentioned as well—the issue of the focus that we have on the committee on the clarity of the law, and also the constitutional fitness for purpose. One of the things that I think’s particularly enjoyable on the committee, but also in the forward programme we’re looking at, is that, very often, to members of the public I think they regard a constitution and law as something that’s set in aspic, it’s done, and that you put it there on the shelf, and then once in a while lawyers and barristers and constitutional experts will take it down and refer you to the relevant point. But, actually, it is an interestingly evolving piece of work, and we can do things quite differently in Wales, and innovate a little bit, and I think that’s what we’re hoping to do here. So, I thank David for his contribution, and I look forward to other contributions here this afternoon.