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Greater London Authority Bill

moved Amendment No. 53A: 53A: Clause 22, page 23, line 14, at end insert— ““(h) a London Borough Council, (i) the Common Council.”” The noble Baroness said: The amendment would make the London boroughs and the City relevant bodies under proposed new Section 309E(5). This is a gently probing amendment; I do not want to cast myself among those who would like to see more mayoral control of the boroughs. However, it is an opportunity to ask how the Government see the borough role in this arrangement. The amendment is tabled at the request of three organisations dealing with visual impairment—the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the RNIB and the London visual impairment forum. They sent me a six-page briefing, which I shall not share with the Committee at this stage. It makes important points about access to care services and the role of local authorities, particularly rehabilitation and the need for properly trained staff in adequate numbers. I know that the noble Baroness, Lady Darcy de Knayth, will speak in more detail on the matter; she has far more experience than I do in this area of health. I beg to move.