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Public Bodies Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am delighted that the amendment has received such a welcome. As noble Lords will know, my name is on it, too. I have a note here that thanks an awful lot of people, quite correctly, including my noble friend Lord Lester of Herne Hill, for his persistence and commitment to get this right, and my noble and learned friend Lord Mackay of Clashfern, whose advice has been invaluable to us all. I am grateful for the support that the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, has also given to this and to noble Lords opposite for their support. We have all wanted to see the amendment included. My speaking note contains no mention at all of the people who probably had to work hardest of all on the amendment—the Bill team, in trying to get the wording right. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, for mentioning that and I thank members of the team for their commitment to get this right. As noble Lords have said, the amendment will, I hope, provide substantial reassurance to the Committee and the wider public that the Bill will be used to bring forward only necessary and proportionate reforms that will maintain the independence of those public functions that clearly need to operate at arm’s length from government. I am delighted that it has been added to the Bill and I trust that it will secure the support of all sides of the House. Amendment 175ZA agreed. Clause 20 : Restriction on creation of functions Clause 20 : Restriction on creation of functions Amendment 175A not moved. Clause 20 agreed. Clause 21 : Restriction on transfer and delegation of functions Clause 21 : Restriction on transfer and delegation of functions Amendment 175B not moved. Clause 21 agreed. Clause 22 agreed. Clause 23 : Transfer schemes Amendment 175C Clause 23 : Transfer schemes Amendment 175C Moved by