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London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

: I agree with the noble Lord—for the reputation of the Government as well for the good governance and government of the ODA. The noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, and I are not arguing that the ODA is equivalent to local government. I cannot see how an annual report, arriving some months after the event and probably giving the outcome only, is any answer to this point. The Minister referred to the Town and Country Planning Act. Many years ago, planning committees met in private while undertaking similar actions, such as giving notice and placing in libraries the outcomes of their deliberations. That is not at all the same as being listened to as you make your deliberations. As we all know in this place, it is quite salutatory to have one’s words referred to sometimes. The Minister used the term ““answerability””. While technically I follow what he is saying, the way that he has defined ““answerability”” is not a very modern—it may be post-modern—way of addressing this serious issue. I was expecting the Minister to tell me that my drafting was wrong, but it seemed a quick way to get into the matter. I could have lived with that. I am not prepared to live with the philosophy behind his reply, but that is not for today.