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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

It is a little unusual to have a reply to an opposition amendment before the amendment has even been spoken to, but I revel in that luxury while thanking the noble Baroness for what she said about Amendment No. 239A. That largely satisfied my curiosity, as this was a probing amendment and I felt that in the light of her remarks about the independence of LINks it was a little strange that we should have a power of direction from the Secretary of State over what the LINks had to include in their annual reports. Nevertheless, I can see that in some circumstances there could be merit in this idea, just so long as it is not carried to excess, as then it could constitute an unreasonable infringement into the independence of LINks. On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendments Nos. 239ZA and 239A not moved.]