---

Local Government Bill [HL]

Does the noble Baroness accept that the former Government were very well warned about the implications for local elections of the way that they were handling these orders and the timetable adopted? Part of the report of the Merits Committee—chaired, I believe, by the noble Lord, Lord Rosser—pointed out with considerable seriousness that the timing of the orders would put candidates in a difficult position, and such uncertainty is generally undesirable. I am sure that the noble Lord will remember the exact wording. There were similar strictures from the JCSI, which also said that the ““unexpected use of power”” was the cancelling of the city council elections due to be held on 6 May. The committee’s report stated: "““If the court decides that the decisions to implement the unitary proposals were flawed, it will be too late to restore the elections which will have been cancelled””." Does the noble Baroness accept that even for the previous Government that was warning enough?