Committee proceeding and Debate on bill on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, in the House of Lords, led by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield and Baroness Taylor of Stevenage. The answering members were Baroness Scott of Bybrook and Lord Jamieson.

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Lords committee stage seventh day. Clause 57 agreed to. Schedule 26 agreed to. Clauses 58 and 59 agreed to. Schedule 27, as amended, agreed to. Clauses 60 and 61 agreed to. Schedule 28 agreed to. Clauses 62 and 63 agreed to. New clause under consideration.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 853 cc298-195GC
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. Constitution Committee sixteenth report
Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Parliamentary committees
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 Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 cc298-122GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I rise to oppose Clause 57 and Schedule 26 and express my deep concern about the way in...; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 853 cc122-300GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, my Amendment 196EC to Schedule 26 fairly sets out some of my concerns, which, having li...; Viscount Trenchard | 853 cc124-5GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I add my voice in support of the noble Lord, Lord Bassam. Everything he said makes a gr...; Lord Fuller | 853 cc125-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, uncharacteristically, I support the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, and the noble Lord, L...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 cc126-7GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I feel bound to remind the noble Lord, Lord Fuller, that the Bill is a Labour continuat...; Lord Mawson | 853 c301GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, size really does matter. Big is not necessarily beautiful. I am a practitioner, as many...; Lord Shipley | 853 cc301-128GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank all those who have spoken, in particular my noble friend Lord Wallace of Saltai...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 853 cc128-302GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will be brief in closing, but very clear about the position of the Official Oppositio...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 cc302-131GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, and my noble friend Lord Bass...; Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 c131GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for her answer. I know she has huge experience of local democracy and counci...; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 853 c131GC (Link to this contribution)
Tabled by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
196EC: Schedule 26, page 275, line 31, at end inser...; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 853 c132GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank my noble friend for her response to my amendment. It is worth the Government thinking a b...; Lord Blunkett | 853 c124GC (Link to this contribution)
I am putting the proposition that Clause 59 and Schedule 27 should not stand part of the Bill. I ...; Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 c124GC (Link to this contribution)
I very much support the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, in opposing Clause 59. As an opponent of centr...; Lord Mohammed of Tinsley | 853 cc125-134GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I apologise that I was not able to speak at Second Reading but I want to speak to the p...; Lord Shipley | 853 cc134-127GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Mohammed of Tinsley for speaking. I also thank the noble L...; Lord Jamieson | 853 cc127-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I wish to continue what seems to be an emerging consensus and a Sheffield love-in. The ...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 cc135-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Blunkett and the other noble Lords who have contributed to...; Lord Blunkett | 853 cc136-1GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank my noble friend for that response. I shall of course not press my amendment at this stage...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 cc131-7GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage
198: Schedule 27, page 283, line 10, leave out ...; Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay | 853 c132GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
202: Schedule 27, page 286, line 16, leave out...; Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay | 853 cc132-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friends Lord Black of Brentwood and Lady Stowell of Beeston, ...; Lord Black of Brentwood | 853 cc138-9GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support Amendment 202 in the name of my noble friend Lord Parkinson, to which I have ...; Lord Storey | 853 cc139-140GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have added my name to this amendment. Good local government and community empowerment...; Lord Faulks | 853 cc140-1GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I enter this debate to support the three previous speakers. I declare an interest as th...; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 853 c141GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I shall not speak for long. I was looking around the Room, trying to add up how many fo...; Lord Lucas | 853 cc135-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the Minister will not be surprised to know that I very much support what other noble Lo...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 853 cc142-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support the principles behind this amendment in the name of my noble friend Lord Park...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 cc143-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 202, in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, seeks to maintain the cur...; Lord Faulks | 853 c137GC (Link to this contribution)
The noble Baroness maybe somewhat misunderstood what I said. I actually asked her—this is part of...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 c137GC (Link to this contribution)
It is, and this part of the Bill suggests that it is for local government to decide the most effe...; Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay | 853 cc145-138GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to all those who have spoken in this debate. My noble friend Lord Black m...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 c141GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
205: Clause 60, page 61, line 27, at end insert—; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 cc141-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, my amendment and the others in this group all stem from a degree of unease, in particul...; Lord Bassam of Brighton | 853 cc147-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have Amendment 206 in this group. I guess it is fishing in a similar pool to that of ...; Lord Lansley | 853 cc144-9GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have a number of amendments in this group and will speak to them in turn, but I just ...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 c145GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, might I ask the noble Lord a question about which areas are not parishes? My strong imp...; Lord Lansley | 853 c145GC (Link to this contribution)
I am sure the noble Lord is absolutely right about that. The interesting thing is that, just beca...; Lord Lucas | 853 c145GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, could I take advantage of my noble friend’s expertise again? How are unitary councils i...; Lord Lansley | 853 c150GC (Link to this contribution)
I think the Minister might wish to refer to that, if necessary. My understanding is that, just be...; Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 cc150-1GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak on Amendment 209 in the name of my noble friend Lady Bennett of Manor Cast...; Earl of Lytton | 853 cc146-152GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 209A in this group is in my name. I express my regret that I was unable to sp...; Lord Lucas | 853 cc152-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I declare an interest in that I live in the middle of this problem: Eastbourne and Hast...; Earl of Lytton | 853 c153GC (Link to this contribution)
In my view, a process of parishing does not consist of the dividing up of a borough—if I can call...; Lord Lucas | 853 c150GC (Link to this contribution)
I can understand that, but how does a big town council for 100,000 or so people actually work wit...; Lord Lansley | 853 c151GC (Link to this contribution)
I have been looking at the clause and I come back to the fact that the local authorities in quest...; Lord Lucas | 853 c152GC (Link to this contribution)
Yes, but the town council will be on our current boundaries, presumably, whereas to work with the...; Lord Fuller | 853 cc154-5GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, this has been a really important debate because it has emphasised and demonstrated the ...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 c155GC (Link to this contribution)
I apologise for intervening, but it is not just about legitimacy—it is also that local areas occa...; Lord Fuller | 853 c155GC (Link to this contribution)
I did not want to come back, but I shall, to amplify my noble friend’s point—I think that I can c...; Lord Shipley | 853 cc155-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, what a helpful discussion we have had about this group of amendments. The noble Lord, L...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 853 cc156-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, London does have a parish. It was set up in 2014 after a local referendum, and it is Qu...; Lord Fuller | 853 c158GC (Link to this contribution)
I would like to make a point before my noble friend sits down. In her opening remarks, she spoke ...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 853 c158GC (Link to this contribution)
In any local democracy, you will get that happening. That is right: people should get together to...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 cc158-162GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Bassam, the noble Lords, Lord Wallace and Lord Lansley, th...; Earl of Lytton | 853 c158GC (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for her kind remarks about me. It has been a pleasure to work with her and w...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 c158GC (Link to this contribution)
I am very pleased to hear that. The noble Lord, Lord Wallace, asked me earlier whether the Bill w...; Lord Lucas | 853 c158GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I entirely agree with that. Do the Minister and the noble Earl realise that the last pl...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 c158GC (Link to this contribution)
It is actually in Knebworth, north Hertfordshire, but I take the noble Lord’s point.; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 cc161-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, my unease has not been lessened by the Minister’s answers, and I suspect that others wi...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 853 cc163-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to the notice that Clause 61 and Schedule 28 do not stand part of the Bill...; Lord Pack | 853 cc164-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak particularly to Amendments 211 and 212 in this group, which are in my name...; Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 cc166-7GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will not talk about different voting systems; I cannot think of anything more boring—...; Lord Fuller | 853 cc167-170GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to my Amendments 216A, 216B and 216C. I also associate myself with most of...; Lord Lucas | 853 c170GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 216D seeks to deal with a consequence of the correct and necessary but sad de...; Baroness O'Neill of Bexley | 853 cc166-171GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I rise in support of Amendment 216D tabled my noble friend Lord Lucas about candidates’...; Lord Hayward | 853 cc171-2GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I apologise for not participating at Second Reading and speaking on this occasion, but ...; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 cc172-0GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak a little about the proposals to change to a supplementary vote. I have som...; Lord Hayward | 853 c170GC (Link to this contribution)
The noble Lord is correct.; Lord Wallace of Saltaire | 853 cc170-3GC (Link to this contribution)
We need to recognise where we are. If we want mayors to have public acceptance and credibility, t...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 cc173-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will begin by addressing the amendments in this group concerning voting systems.
<...; Lord Hayward | 853 c175GC (Link to this contribution)
Between 8 and 18 December, was there no consideration whatever of the possibility of delaying the...; Baroness Taylor of Stevenage | 853 c175GC (Link to this contribution)
I have already outlined to the noble Lord that the sentence I used, whenever we discussed this an...; Baroness Scott of Bybrook | 853 cc175-7GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, when we ask these questions, the Minister always talks about the complexity of these ch...; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering | 853 c178GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
218: After Clause 62, insert the following ne...; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering | 853 cc178-9GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment 218. I look forward to hearing the noble Lord, Lord Pack, an...; Lord Pack | 853 cc179-181GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 219 and 220. As the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, has indic...; Lord Fuller | 853 cc178-182GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, like many others, I had a leading position as a councillor during Covid. The Minister a...; Lord Jamieson | 853 cc182-3GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have listened carefully to this debate and wish to speak briefly on this group of ame...; Lord Wilson of Sedgefield | 853 cc183-4GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh of Pickering, and the noble Lord, Lord Pack, ...; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering | 853 c184GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I am grateful to everyone who has spoken in this short debate. I do not know which slip...; Lord Wilson of Sedgefield | 853 c185GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, with my other hat on, as the Whip, I just want to say that the next group is pretty lon...; Lord Jamieson | 853 c185GC (Link to this contribution)
We are definitely finishing the debate.; Lord Wilson of Sedgefield | 853 c185GC (Link to this contribution)
We are definitely finishing at that time. If we can get through this big group, we will, I hope, ...; Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 c185GC (Link to this contribution)
Sorry; would it not make more sense—; Lord Wilson of Sedgefield | 853 c185GC (Link to this contribution)
No.; Lord Lucas | 853 c185GC (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Lucas
222A: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clause—
“Fu...; Lord Lucas | 853 cc185-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 222A just picks up the Government on the disappearance of the funds that the ...; Earl of Clancarty | 853 cc186-7GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have a number of amendments in this group relating to assets of cultural value and I ...; Baroness Freeman of Steventon | 853 cc187-8GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, my Amendment 225 is supported by my noble friend Lord Freyberg and many outside this Ro...; Baroness Coffey | 853 cc188-190GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have tabled in this group Amendments 222D to 222F, 225A, 230A, 232A, 232B, 234ZA and ...; Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb | 853 cc191-2GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, what an exciting group this is. I support Amendments 223A, 224A, 226 and 228, which add...; Baroness Boycott | 853 cc192-188GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 239. I support all the amendments that have just been talked ...; Baroness Young of Old Scone | 853 cc193-189GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support Amendment 239, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott. I will be bri...; Baroness Boycott | 853 c191GC (Link to this contribution)
I just want to intervene on what the noble Baroness was saying about the importance of councils b...; Baroness Young of Old Scone | 853 c191GC (Link to this contribution)
I finish by saying that I also support the amendments so ably put forward by the noble Baronesses...; Lord Freyberg | 853 cc192-5GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I speak in support of all nine amendments in the name of the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty...; Baroness Pidgeon | 853 cc195-6GC (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, this has been a very interesting group and discussion. I will raise a couple of points....
Subjects: Disclosure of information Councillors Candidates Absent voting Devolution Finance Elections Electoral systems Local government Ministerial powers Parish and town councils Local government executive Local press Combined authorities Reorganisation Unitary councils Mayors Police and crime commissioners Community assets Remote meetings
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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