Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd Excerpts

Friday 5th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd (CB)]

My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Murphy of Torfaen, and congratulate him on bringing this Bill so speedily before this House. Now that Wales has much better digital services and the young use digital means in preference to postal and other services, it is a timely measure. I wish to make two comments.

First, we ought to congratulate those in the other place, particularly Tracy Gilbert, on getting this Bill into such good shape. It shows that that House is capable of doing something that normally has to be done in this place. That is a lesson to be learned. The other place really does deserve congratulations.

Secondly, and a point which flows from that, we ought to show that we can do our bit to get legislation speedily through. We have to go through each part of the processes, because that is essential for its constitutional integrity, but it seems to me that if there is really very little to be done, this ought to be done quickly. The reason for that is that this needs to be law by the end of October. It is traditional to allow at least a month off for Christmas, which is realistic though maybe not desirable, and so if this is to be in effect in time for the Senedd elections in Wales and the parliamentary elections in Edinburgh, it must be passed. Can we as a House match what the other place has done?