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Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Before the noble Lord responds, does the Minister appreciate the irony of wishing to increase the status and therefore requiring the designation of an officer but saying that it is up to local authorities what level that officer should be? Above and beyond that, she talks—this is what the clause says—about designating an officer, but at the start of her speech she said that local authorities will have an officer but not necessarily an extra officer. This requires designation of an officer, not the employment of somebody additional. An officer already on the payroll can be designated; that would fulfil the requirement in the Bill but not take anybody any further forward.