Committee proceeding and Debate on bill on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, in the House of Lords, led by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage. The answering members were Baroness Scott of Bybrook and Lord Jamieson.

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Lords committee stage first day. Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to. Clause 5 agreed to.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 852 cc57-110GC
Session: 2024-26
Department: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Legislative stage: Committee stage
Procedure: New clauses
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords Grand Committee
Related items: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2024-26. Brought from the Commons
Thursday, 27 November 2025
Bills
House of Lords; English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee forty-fifth report
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Parliamentary committees
House of Lords
Proceeding contributions: Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 c57GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Scott of Bybrook
1: Before Clause 1, insert the following new Claus...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 cc57-9GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, first, before I start, I wish a belated happy birthday for yesterday to the Minister. I...; Lord Shipley | 852 cc58-61GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I declare at the outset that I have been a vice-president of the Local Government Assoc...; Baroness Eaton | 852 cc61-2GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I declare my interest as a vice-president of the Local Government Association. I wish t...; Lord Norton of Louth | 852 c264GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have no interests to declare, other than that I want legislation to be as good as it ...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 852 cc264-63GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have no interests to declare. Like the noble Lord, Lord Norton, I am an academic and ...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc63-5GC (Link to this contribution)
Before I comment on the amendments in this group, I send my very best wishes to the noble Barones...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 cc65-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate. Turning briefly to...; Lord Jamieson | 852 c66GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Jamieson
2: Clause 2, page 2, line 18, leave out paragraph (a)
Me...; Lord Jamieson | 852 cc66-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I declare my interest as a councillor in central Bedfordshire. This group of amendments...; Lord Ravensdale | 852 cc68-9GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I declare my interest as a chief engineer working for AtkinsRéalis. My Amendment 3 woul...; Lord Freyberg | 852 cc69-70GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I declare my interest as a visual artist. Amendment 4 in my name is a small but importa...; Lord Lansley | 852 cc70-1GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak on Amendment 8 in my name, which would have the effect of adding to the li...; Lord Mawson | 852 cc71-2GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, in this discussion, there is a lot of confusion between what I call the two Ds: democra...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 cc72-5GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, in following the noble Lord, Lord Mawson, I feel the need to stress that we should not ...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 852 c75GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, we have been talking about public safety under Amendment 5. I want to check with the Mi...; Earl of Devon | 852 c75GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I was not going to speak on this group, but the amendments from the noble Baroness, Lad...; Lord Porter of Spalding | 852 c76GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I was not going to speak on this group either, but my noble friend Lord Lansley raised ...; Lord Shipley | 852 c76GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I would like briefly to contribute in the hope that I can be helpful to the Minister at...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc76-9GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their amendments on the areas of competence and for what ha...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 c80GC (Link to this contribution)
I am sorry, but the Minister does not seem to have mentioned this: I think we are also probing wh...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c80GC (Link to this contribution)
I will finish what I am saying, then I will see whether I can answer the noble Baroness’s questio...; Lord Lansley | 852 c80GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, while the Bill clearly allows for additional functions and powers to be given to mayora...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc80-1GC (Link to this contribution)
I heard the noble Lord’s question. I responded earlier that I will come back to him on how this w...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 c81GC (Link to this contribution)
Perhaps I might come back to the issue of food security. In her answer, the Minister talked about...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c81GC (Link to this contribution)
I understand why the noble Baroness is pushing her point strongly, but I will stick to the answer...; Lord Mawson | 852 cc81-2GC (Link to this contribution)
I know that the Minister cares a lot about these issues around community engagement, which is alw...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c82GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank the noble Lord, Lord Mawson, for those additional points. In this Room there are many peo...; Lord Ravensdale | 852 c82GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I raised a minor point around paragraph (a) in Clause 2—“areas of competence”—which ref...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c82GC (Link to this contribution)
The noble Lord knows, because we have had the conversation, that I feel that the order of that wo...; Lord Jamieson | 852 cc83-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken on this group. What has emerged quite ...; Earl of Clancarty | 852 c84GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
The Earl of Clancarty
6: Clause 2, page 2, line 24, at end insert—
“(h...; Earl of Clancarty | 852 cc84-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, my Amendment 6 would rectify what is, at present, a significant omission from the list ...; Baroness Prashar | 852 cc85-7GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support the amendment moved by the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, but I shall also speak...; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering | 852 c87GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am in favour of all the amendments in this group, particularly Amendment 6, which I h...; Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe | 852 cc87-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am delighted to support the noble Baroness, Lady Prashar, and the noble Earl, Lord Cl...; Lord Freyberg | 852 c88GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak briefly to support Amendment 6, to which I have added my name, and to expr...; Viscount Colville of Culross | 852 cc89-90GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I speak in support of Amendments 6 in the name of my noble friend Lord Clancarty and Am...; Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay | 852 cc90-2GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am very supportive of Amendments 6 and 10. I would have added my name to them, but th...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 c91GC (Link to this contribution)
I would like to make a point of clarification, if I may, on the Ipswich cuts. The Greens were pro...; Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay | 852 c91GC (Link to this contribution)
I said Bristol.; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 852 c91GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I want to speak to the amendment from the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty. I became leader o...; Earl of Devon | 852 cc91-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I would like to add a small voice to the chorus of support for these amendments. I do s...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 852 c93GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, we on these Benches very much support the inclusion of this measure—above all because, ...; Lord Jamieson | 852 cc93-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, before I speak to these amendments, I have a point of clarification: I believe that my ...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc94-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, for Amendments 6 and 51, and the noble Baroness...; Earl of Clancarty | 852 c96GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will be brief. I am grateful for all the support across the Committee that my noble f...; Baroness Royall of Blaisdon | 852 c96GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
7: Clause 2, page 2, line 24, at end insert—
...; Baroness Royall of Blaisdon | 852 cc96-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 7 and 128 in my name. I am grateful to the noble Lords, Lord...; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering | 852 cc98-100GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am delighted to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Royall, and thank her for introducing...; Lord Best | 852 cc100-1GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I shall speak to Amendments 7 and 128 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Royall of...; Lord Cameron of Dillington | 852 cc101-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support the amendments in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Royall and Lady McI...; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 852 cc103-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support these amendments. I am absolutely fascinated by this debate. For most of my l...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 cc104-5GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, as I have attached my name to Amendment 7, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Roya...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 cc105-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, this has been an interesting debate. I have found that some of my views have changed sl...; Lord Shipley | 852 cc106-268GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook. What she said was very importan...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc268-109GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Royall of Blaisdon and Lady McIntosh of Pickering, f...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 c109GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for making the special effort to provide that extra response, but that is wh...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc109-110GC (Link to this contribution)
I take the point. That project is being supported by the Food Strategy Advisory Board, including ...; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering | 852 c110GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for her response. She referred to an impact assessment. W...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c110GC (Link to this contribution)
Let me just check with my civil servants so that I do not say something I should not say. I belie...; Baroness Royall of Blaisdon | 852 cc110-1GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have participated in this short debate and to my n...; Lord Gascoigne | 852 c111GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Gascoigne
12: After Clause 2, insert the following new Clause—
“E...; Lord Gascoigne | 852 cc111-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, it is a great pleasure to speak for the first time in the passage of the Bill. I know w...; Baroness Thornhill | 852 cc113-5GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I acknowledge the constructive intention behind Amendment 12 from the noble Lord, Lord ...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 c115GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Gascoigne goes to the heart of what effect...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c116GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Gascoigne, for this amendment, which seeks to ensure that ...; Lord Gascoigne | 852 cc116-7GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister, as ever.
The noble Baroness, Lady Thornhill, ...; Lord Shipley | 852 c117GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Shipley
13: After Clause 2, insert the following new Clause—
“Dev...; Lord Shipley | 852 cc117-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, for signing my ...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 c119GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, and I commend him on drafting ...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 cc119-120GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for his amendment. For me, it is a little too rev...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc120-1GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for Amendment 13, which seeks to ensure that powe...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 c121GC (Link to this contribution)
I do not want to give the idea that the parish and town councils across this country would not be...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c121GC (Link to this contribution)
I was highlighting the fact that the noble Baroness spoke about the willingness to adopt services...; Lord Jamieson | 852 c122GC (Link to this contribution)
Before the Minister sits down, I want to clarify one of the statements she made. This is a devolu...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c122GC (Link to this contribution)
We have set out clearly in the Bill—with the competences, for example—where we see strategic resp...; Lord Shipley | 852 cc122-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the Minister asked whether I was satisfied by her responses; I am actually more worried...; Baroness Janke | 852 cc123-60GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Janke
14: Clause 3, page 2, line 32, at end insert—
“(3A) Bef...; Baroness Janke | 852 cc124-63GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, in echoing my colleague’s comments reflecting on the previous debate, it sounds as thou...; Lord Jamieson | 852 cc64-125GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I speak on this group of amendments concerning Clause 3, which addresses the creation o...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc125-70GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Scott and Lady Janke, for their amendments on single...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 c126GC (Link to this contribution)
The Minister said that the affirmative procedure had to go through both Houses; I understand that...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c73GC (Link to this contribution)
The Government have made our intention very clear: we want to see unitary authorities established...; Lord Jamieson | 852 c76GC (Link to this contribution)
The Minister kindly said that she would write to me about funding, but I had two other related qu...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 c79GC (Link to this contribution)
For most local authorities—I have spoken to a great number of them over the past few months—the a...; Baroness Janke | 852 cc80-1GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for her comments. I do, however, feel that there is a distinct lack of local...; Lord Wilson of Sedgefield | 852 c87GC (Link to this contribution)
Before we move on, I note that the last group is quite a large one. We are due to finish in half ...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 852 cc89-91GC (Link to this contribution)
It looks like a huge group, but that is only because of the scheduling. Most of the amendments ar...; Lord Jamieson | 852 c91GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Jamieson
16: Schedule 1, page 89, line 15, leave out paragraph (b)
<...; Lord Jamieson | 852 cc91-129GC (Link to this contribution)
The noble Lord, Lord Wilson, and my noble friend Lady Scott have stolen my first line about the s...; Lord Lansley | 852 cc129-95GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group: Amendments 21 and 24. My noble friends on the Fron...; Lord Shipley | 852 c96GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am very happy with the amendments spoken to so far, so I will not repeat what has bee...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 852 cc131-97GC (Link to this contribution)
There were a lot of amendments in this group, but we whipped through it very quickly, so I thank ...; Lord Jamieson | 852 cc132-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, we have had an interesting day debating the Bill. I think there is universal agreement ...
Subjects: Poverty Accountability Construction Devolution Arts Housing Energy Infrastructure Functions Economic growth Local government Ministerial powers Local government finance Powers Planning Parish and town councils Rural areas Tourism Social services Transport Safety Combined authorities Reorganisation Unitary councils Mayors
Legislation: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2024-26
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Secondary information

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