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Manchester City Council Bill [Lords](By Order)

I am sure that in due course the Bills will get a Second Reading. It would be better, in terms of the costs for the councils that are promoting the Bills, if the Committee stages did not start until after we have had the evidence from the Durham university study. That would prevent abortive expenditure by the local authorities and that evidence would also inform the Committee stage. Our procedures mean that persistence pays off and, in due course, the Bills will get a Second Reading, if enough people vote for them. But whether that will be today, I can only speculate. As a local resident close to the Bournemouth conurbation, I have made it my business to try to be the healer in this issue. I went in January to an early-morning meeting at Bournemouth town hall to discuss possible compromises in relation to the objection that I was making to the Bill. I have to express my disappointment that I have not had a full response from the council to some of the concerns that I expressed. I asked one of the key councillors, in writing, whether he could let me know what estimate he had of the number of lawful pedlars operating in Bournemouth, what consultations had been carried out with those people about the contents of the Bill— It being three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the private business set down by the Chairman of Ways and Means, Madam Deputy Speaker interrupted the business pursuant to Order [4 June]. Ordered, That the debate be resumed on Thursday 19 June.