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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

moved Amendment No. 202: 202: Clause 196, page 139, line 40, at end insert— ““(5) In section 105(6) of that Act (instruments subject to affirmative procedure) after ““49”” insert ““, 63(1)(j)””.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, the amendment would put into effect the commitment that I gave in Committee that we would provide for the order-making power in Clause 196(4) in Part 10 to be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. I indicated in Committee that I was minded to agree to the recommendation of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee that orders under Section 63(1)(j) of the Local Government Act 2000, inserted by Clause 196(4), should be made subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. That power will provide for the Secretary of State to specify by order those persons to whom ethical standards officers of the standards board may disclose information. Amendment No. 202 inserts the order-making power under new subsection 63(1)(j) of the Local Government Act 2000, as introduced by Clause 196, into the list in Section 105(6) of the Local Government Act 2000 to provide that the order-making power is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. I hope that noble Lords will agree that this is a positive response to the concerns they expressed earlier and that it reflects my commitment to respond constructively to suggestions about how to ensure that the ethical conduct regime applying to local government members is sensible, proportionate and fair to all parties. On Question, amendment agreed to.