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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 225ZC: 225ZC: After Clause 130, insert the following new Clause— ““Timetable for implementation Not later than three months after the passing of this Act the Secretary of State shall publicise when he proposes to make regulations under section 236A of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) as inserted by section 130 of this Act.”” The noble Lord said: This amendment tidies up a simple point that came up in debate in the Commons. The Minister explained succinctly that where new Section 236A in the Local Government Act 1972 refers to the Secretary of State delegating the power to make by-laws, it applies to every department. I understand that that delegation will take place department by department—so we are back to the subject of the previous amendment—perhaps even by-law by by-law. It is a shame because, as the Bill is new government legislation, I presume that every department had to give the thumbs up that this delegation could take place with immediate effect in order to secure consistency on handover—a clarified process of the welcome devolution of the power to make by-laws that we talked about before. In the absence of such a common-sense measure, the Minister may be able to accept Amendment No. 225ZC, which ensures transparency in this process by placing a duty on every department to publicise, no later than three months after the passing of the Bill, a timetable for the introduction of regulations that will delegate certain by-laws to local authorities. In the House of Commons Committee, the Minister said: "““We are out of the hangar and on the runway, but the engines are not yet fired up””.—[Official Report, Commons, Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill Committee, 27/2/07; col. 392.]" That is an extraordinary statement. I should like the Minister to explain exactly what it means. This is a very important matter in terms of greater transparency for the public and the wider plan of local government implementation of these measures. The amendment is intended as a constructive addition to the Bill to ensure greater clarity of implementation. I beg to move.