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Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: The order was laid on 8 January. Today we are debating five orders which bring into effect unitary authorities for Northumberland, Wiltshire, Durham, Cornwall and Shropshire. This initial debate addresses the Northumberland order, but since many of the same issues and processes will arise on each order, I hope the Committee will agree that it is sensible if I set out the main issues as context for the more detailed description of each case as we come to it. In that way, we will have a context for the individual situation and choices evident in each order without, I hope, too much repetition. I apologise to the Committee in advance: I have a rather long speaking note. However, I think it will serve the purpose of the Committee if we do it this way than if we have individual debates and I find myself repeating what I have said before. I shall therefore explain to the Committee the general approach we have adopted to unitary restructuring; the precise approach we have taken— [The Sitting was suspended for a Division in the House from 2.01 to 2.11 pm.]