Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:52 pm on 21 March 2023.
Well, I will come to that. It's one of those ironies that I'm really glad that there is an amendment, because it shows someone has read the paper and the importance of it to this Senedd, and it also reflects one of the positions in respect of independence. I think the point is that, if we're going to have a White Paper and we're going to have a consultation, there are of course other models of how the independence of the tribunals will operate, and my only view is that, even though I suspect we may well come back to that, it's just that it's premature at this stage, I think, to throw our lot in and say that this is the particular system. It may well be, but there are others, and I think we need to go through a process of proper consideration of those before we get to it, particularly in legislation of this type, which is reforming part of the judicial system.
So, as I was saying, I'm delighted that Sir Gary Hickinbottom will be the new president of tribunals, and, of course, he has considerable experience not only in the courts in Wales, but also in the Court of Appeal, and I look forward to working with him as we move forward towards a reformed tribunals service.
Deputy Llywydd, in closing, I hope Members will also join me in thanking the president of Welsh Tribunals for his annual report, and, of course, I'm sure we all wish him well for his retirement—his deserved retirement.