---

Greater London Authority Bill

I make it clear that the Government see this very much as a positive development and are very committed to the idea of the Assembly making a success of it. It would be most unfair to suggest that in achieving a situation where the key positions—the chairs of the functional bodies—are subject to confirmational hearings with the Assembly as an initiative in this Bill. It is unfair to suggest that the Government do not see this as anything other than a really positive and important scrutinising role for the Assembly.