To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the remit of the Competition and Markets Authority to create a research and development public interest test for proposed mergers and takeovers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the remit of the Competition and Markets Authority to create a research and development public interest test for proposed mergers and takeovers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the remit of the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure that Critical National Infrastructure is protected by a public interest test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the remit of the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure that Critical National Infrastructure is protected by a public interest test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) remit, (b) membership and (c) reporting requirements of the future sectors team as part of the industrial strategy will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) remit, (b) membership and (c) reporting requirements of the future sectors team as part of the industrial strategy will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the role and remit of the Social Mobility Commission will be upon appointment of its new Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the role and remit of the Social Mobility Commission will be upon appointment of its new Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's report of December 2017, Careers strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents, what plans she has to integrate the functions of the National Careers Service into the activities of the Careers and Enterprise Company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's report of December 2017, Careers strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents, what plans she has to integrate the functions of the National Careers Service into the activities of the Careers and Enterprise Company.

I. Tailored Review of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). 40p. II. Annexes to the Tailored Review of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). 14p.

I. Tailored Review of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). 40p. II. Annexes to the Tailored Review of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). 14p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the proposed Industrial Strategy Council will be (a) independent of Government and (b) able to hold Government to account for the implementation of the Industrial Strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the proposed Industrial Strategy Council will be (a) independent of Government and (b) able to hold Government to account for the implementation of the Industrial Strategy.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

I. Letter dated 17/11/2017 from Lord Agnew to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the Libraries. 1p. Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Framework document. 65p.

I. Letter dated 17/11/2017 from Lord Agnew to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the Libraries. 1p. Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Framework document. 65p.

I beg to move that the draft Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Public Health Functions) Order 2017, which was laid before this House on 20 July 2017, be approved.

The draft order we are considering today, if approved and made, will confer local authority public health functions on the Greater Manchester Combined...

I beg to move that the draft Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Public Health Functions) Order 2017, which was laid before this House on 20 July 2017, be approved.

The draft order we are considering today, if approved and made, will confer local authority public health functions on the Greater Manchester Combined...

My Lords, first, I thank the noble Lord for his explanation of the order. As I am going to touch on oral health in Greater Manchester, I declare an interest as president of the British Fluoridation Society.

The order is unexceptional and we support it. It takes a sensible approach, enabling...

My Lords, first, I thank the noble Lord for his explanation of the order. As I am going to touch on oral health in Greater Manchester, I declare an interest as president of the British Fluoridation Society.

The order is unexceptional and we support it. It takes a sensible approach, enabling...

I am very grateful to the noble Lord who has just spoken for setting out the fluoridation situation. I have written to the Mayor of Manchester on this very issue and sent him copies of all the Hansard replies over the years when I have asked what the difference is...

I am very grateful to the noble Lord who has just spoken for setting out the fluoridation situation. I have written to the Mayor of Manchester on this very issue and sent him copies of all the Hansard replies over the years when I have asked what the difference is...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of Newcastle City Council and of its health scrutiny committee. I have served long enough to recall the original reorganisation of local government, combining public health services with social care, in the early 1970s. I congratulate the Government, the Mayor of...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of Newcastle City Council and of its health scrutiny committee. I have served long enough to recall the original reorganisation of local government, combining public health services with social care, in the early 1970s. I congratulate the Government, the Mayor of...

My Lords, perhaps I may ask the Minister about infectious diseases and express my interest as a past chairman of what was the Public Health Laboratory Service and as a Mancunian. Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and it is important with any infectious disease outbreak, which may occur anywhere in...

My Lords, perhaps I may ask the Minister about infectious diseases and express my interest as a past chairman of what was the Public Health Laboratory Service and as a Mancunian. Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and it is important with any infectious disease outbreak, which may occur anywhere in...

I thank noble Lords for their contributions and for their broad support for the order before the House today. As I outlined, it represents another significant milestone in the Government’s devolution agenda and I am glad that that has been welcomed across the House. I will try to respond to...

I thank noble Lords for their contributions and for their broad support for the order before the House today. As I outlined, it represents another significant milestone in the Government’s devolution agenda and I am glad that that has been welcomed across the House. I will try to respond to...

After the Strathclyde case and the ruling from Lord Jauncey, the then Conservative Government took legislation through

both Houses of Parliament to make sure that fluoridation was legal and above board. That was based on evidence that has not been undermined since.

After the Strathclyde case and the ruling from Lord Jauncey, the then Conservative Government took legislation through

both Houses of Parliament to make sure that fluoridation was legal and above board. That was based on evidence that has not been undermined since.