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Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]

The hon. Gentleman is a Liberal Democrat, so I do not blame him for not having read the Conservative party's green paper "Control Shift". Our position is genuinely localist. If the hon. Gentleman's local authority in Cheltenham wanted a development agency, it could have one; it would, however, be accountable to the public for that decision. I encourage his local authority to group together with others to get critical mass. Economies of scale can be gained if local authorities work together in what I would describe as an economic partnership. I heartily commend the green paper to the hon. Gentleman; in fact, I have a copy at my disposal if he feels like briefing himself this evening about a better view of how to work with regional development agencies.