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Proceeding contribution from Lord Harris of Haringey (Labour) in the House of Lords on Monday, 30 April 2007. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on Greater London Authority Bill.


Greater London Authority Bill

Is it not the case that consultation on changes to the congestion charge zone are a statutory process that is laid down in the Greater London Authority Act 1999, to which reference has been made? Is it not also the case that there have been a number of legal cases about whether or not consultation has taken place properly? I refer the noble Baroness to the case of Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board v Aylesbury Mushrooms in 1972, heard by Lord Justice Donaldson, which set out clearly that, "““the essence of consultation is the communication of a genuine invitation, extended with a receptive mind, to give advice””," or to a case that both of us probably remember more directly: R v Secretary of State for Social Services ex parte Association of Metropolitan Authorities in 1986, where Lord Justice Webster said, "““in any context, the essence of consultation is the communication of a genuine invitation to give advice and a genuine consideration of that advice””." If there is a feeling that the statutory processes were not followed, or that the consultation was improper, is there not already a process in place?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
691 c15GC 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Greater London Greater London Authority Functions Local government Pay Powers Public appointments Members Staff Mayor of London London Assembly
Legislation
Greater London Authority Bill 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk