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Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

My Lords, my party’s views on devolution and decentralisation have been consistent and well known for a long time. In view of the hour of the night, perhaps I do not need to rehearse them now, but I have some sympathy with the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, in his amendments. I would have had the same sympathy in the years 1979 to 1997. Amendment 171A in this group relates to Clause 144 at the end of the Bill, the commencement clause. Subsection (10)(a) refers to, "““power to appoint different days for different purposes””." Our amendment would add, ““or for different areas””. It may be that ““different purposes”” includes different areas, but that is far from clear. If the words were in the Bill, they would make it crystal clear; as it is, the Minister has the opportunity to say that, even though that is not what it says, it is what it means.