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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 10: 10: Clause 3, page 3, line 2, leave out subsection (1) and insert— ““(1) Neither a direction nor an invitation under section 2 may be issued or given after 25 January 2008.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I have introduced Amendment No. 10 at this stage in order to do what I have been hinting at during the previous two amendments; that is, to have this whole part of the Bill limited to completion by January 2008. The running on of these proposals will cause concern within local authorities, instability and insecurity. The Government have probably done enough harm with these proposals without them going on for any longer. If the invitation to form these new authorities is not and has not been issued by now, when will it be? For how long does the Minister see this invitation and legislation continuing? The refusal so far to confirm when an invitation to change governance may be issued leaves local authorities not wanting to change in limbo. It leaves all the cards in the Government’s hands and none in those of local government. It is not a million miles away from the changing attitudes to governance. The invitation should be included in the 25 January 2008 sunset clause. We should see an end to this enterprise and security for all local authorities. All local authorities not invited so far should not be left with a feeling that at some stage they may be invited to do so. As I have said previously, the Minister may not understand the chaos caused and ill feelings created in authorities that do not want it, but are being included in the proposal. We ought to draw a line under this and include invitations in the sunset clause. I beg to move.