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Housing and Regeneration Bill

I am grateful for the comments of other Members of the Committee. Of course, it is entirely right that there should be a code of conduct. I have no quarrel with that at all, but I find it odd that it is not necessary to say in the Bill that there should be a code of conduct or some reference in the way that I put forward, but it is necessary to say in primary legislation—in a Bill of 222 pages—that the Secretary of State can ask questions of the candidate when a candidate is applying for an appointment. I am sorry if I am repeating myself. Let me make it entirely clear that I do not have any argument with Cabinet Office guidelines or with the desirability of seeking information. But the Bill does not say that the Secretary of State should appoint the best person for the job. If it were to say anything about what the Secretary of State should do, it could have said that, but common sense prevailed. On the point made by the Minister about the Greater London Authority, we were debating whether the Assembly could require information in connection with confirmatory hearings. The distinction is that the Assembly will not be taking the decision: it is simply seeking to put into the public arena the issues around particular appointments, which is a different issue. I heard what the Minister said. I did not expect to win on this issue, but I did feel a need to air it. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 not moved.]