Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, these regulations were laid on 16 March 2026. When referring to the Hampshire and the Solent combined county authority hereafter, I will use the term “strategic authority” unless there is a particular reason to be specific.

This Government were elected on a manifesto commitment to widen and deepen devolution...

My Lords, these regulations were laid on 16 March 2026. When referring to the Hampshire and the Solent combined county authority hereafter, I will use the term “strategic authority” unless there is a particular reason to be specific.

This Government were elected on a manifesto commitment to widen and deepen devolution...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for his comments. I know that he has great experience of dealing with matters such as this. I will pick up each of his points in turn.

The first is the issue of restructuring for its own sake. That is just not...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for his comments. I know that he has great experience of dealing with matters such as this. I will pick up each of his points in turn.

The first is the issue of restructuring for its own sake. That is just not...

I will take the second point first because, as I hope I conveyed in my winding speech, the proposals we have considered have all come from authorities themselves. They set out very clearly the proposals that they sent forward and, in most areas, there were a number of different proposals....

I will take the second point first because, as I hope I conveyed in my winding speech, the proposals we have considered have all come from authorities themselves. They set out very clearly the proposals that they sent forward and, in most areas, there were a number of different proposals....

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Rees for Amendments 135, 138 and 174 and for being available to explain why he has brought this forward from other mayors. He has passed on their views for us.

I will speak first to Amendments 136 and 137 in my name. As...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Rees for Amendments 135, 138 and 174 and for being available to explain why he has brought this forward from other mayors. He has passed on their views for us.

I will speak first to Amendments 136 and 137 in my name. As...

Yes—that would be my amendment.

Amendment 136 would bring the inspection regime into line with the existing exemptions for other fire and rescue authority governance models, maintaining consistency and fairness across England.

Amendment 137 would confirm that, where a mayoral combined authority or a mayoral combined county authority assumes fire and rescue...

Yes—that would be my amendment.

Amendment 136 would bring the inspection regime into line with the existing exemptions for other fire and rescue authority governance models, maintaining consistency and fairness across England.

Amendment 137 would confirm that, where a mayoral combined authority or a mayoral combined county authority assumes fire and rescue...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

136: Schedule 23, page 261, line 7, at end insert—

“Matters outside the scope of inspections

4A In section 28 (inspectors), after subsection (A8) insert—

“(A8A) When carrying out an inspection under subsection (A3) of a mayoral combined authority, or mayoral CCA, in its capacity as a fire and...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

136: Schedule 23, page 261, line 7, at end insert—

“Matters outside the scope of inspections

4A In section 28 (inspectors), after subsection (A8) insert—

“(A8A) When carrying out an inspection under subsection (A3) of a mayoral combined authority, or mayoral CCA, in its capacity as a fire and...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

139: Clause 50, page 57, line 14, after “the” insert “GLA and the”

Member's explanatory statement

This amendment is consequential on the amendment in my name inserting new provisions into the Licensing Act 2003 to confer powers on the GLA and the Mayor of London.

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

139: Clause 50, page 57, line 14, after “the” insert “GLA and the”

Member's explanatory statement

This amendment is consequential on the amendment in my name inserting new provisions into the Licensing Act 2003 to confer powers on the GLA and the Mayor of London.

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords from all sides of the House for the seriousness with which our new proposed strategic licensing measures were considered during Committee. The attention given to the detail of these clauses and to their practical implications has been valuable.

I begin by stating clearly...

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords from all sides of the House for the seriousness with which our new proposed strategic licensing measures were considered during Committee. The attention given to the detail of these clauses and to their practical implications has been valuable.

I begin by stating clearly...

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, and the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for their comments. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, for Amendments 140 and 148. Our intention behind introducing the new strategic licensing measures in London is clear: to enable a more strategic approach to licensing to...

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, and the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for their comments. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, for Amendments 140 and 148. Our intention behind introducing the new strategic licensing measures in London is clear: to enable a more strategic approach to licensing to...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

141: Schedule 24, page 262, line 32, leave out “2 to 4” and insert “1A to 4P”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequential on the amendment in my name inserting new provisions into the Licensing Act 2003 to confer powers on the GLA and the Mayor of...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

141: Schedule 24, page 262, line 32, leave out “2 to 4” and insert “1A to 4P”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequential on the amendment in my name inserting new provisions into the Licensing Act 2003 to confer powers on the GLA and the Mayor of...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

149: Clause 51, page 57, line 22, leave out “one or more areas” and insert “any aspect of any area”

Member’s explanatory statement

This would make this wording consistent with the wording used in paragraph 4 of Schedule 25 (in the definition of “eligible function”).

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

149: Clause 51, page 57, line 22, leave out “one or more areas” and insert “any aspect of any area”

Member’s explanatory statement

This would make this wording consistent with the wording used in paragraph 4 of Schedule 25 (in the definition of “eligible function”).

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

171: Schedule 25, page 274, line 28, at end insert—

“Exercise of functions may begin at different times etc

16A (1) This paragraph applies to a power under this Schedule to confer a function on, or provide for a function to be exercisable by, a class of strategic...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

171: Schedule 25, page 274, line 28, at end insert—

“Exercise of functions may begin at different times etc

16A (1) This paragraph applies to a power under this Schedule to confer a function on, or provide for a function to be exercisable by, a class of strategic...

Two more votes: that always makes you feel better. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

Government Amendments 171 and 180 are technical amendments that provide greater clarity on how Schedule 25 will allow the functions of strategic authorities to be updated and modified over time. Amendment 180 clarifies that Schedule 25 to the...

Two more votes: that always makes you feel better. Thank you, Deputy Speaker.

Government Amendments 171 and 180 are technical amendments that provide greater clarity on how Schedule 25 will allow the functions of strategic authorities to be updated and modified over time. Amendment 180 clarifies that Schedule 25 to the...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

180: Schedule 25, page 277, line 13, at end insert—

“Mayoral strategic authorities: period before first mayor takes office

26 (1) The fact that a mayoral strategic authority is in the preparatory phase—

(a) does not prevent regulations under this Schedule from making provision which applies to—

(i) the mayor...

Moved by

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage

180: Schedule 25, page 277, line 13, at end insert—

“Mayoral strategic authorities: period before first mayor takes office

26 (1) The fact that a mayoral strategic authority is in the preparatory phase—

(a) does not prevent regulations under this Schedule from making provision which applies to—

(i) the mayor...

Lords report stage second day. Amendment 82 disagreed to on division (64 to 140). Amendment 83 disagreed to on division (115 to 197). Amendment 84 agreed to on division (171 to 146). Amendments 88 to 92, 94, 101, 102 and 106 agreed to. Amendment 121 agreed to on division (152 to 128). Amendments 128, 136, 137, 139, 141 to 147, 149, 171 and 180 agreed to.

Lords report stage second day. Amendment 82 disagreed to on division (64 to 140). Amendment 83 disagreed to on division (115 to 197). Amendment 84 agreed to on division (171 to 146). Amendments 88 to 92, 94, 101, 102 and 106 agreed to. Amendment 121 agreed to on division (152...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Scott, Lady Pidgeon and

Lady O’Neill, for their amendments on the functions and governance of the Greater London Authority and London boroughs.

I turn first to Amendments 81, 154 and 156. This Government are committed to delivering a permanent transfer of power from...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses, Lady Scott, Lady Pidgeon and

Lady O’Neill, for their amendments on the functions and governance of the Greater London Authority and London boroughs.

I turn first to Amendments 81, 154 and 156. This Government are committed to delivering a permanent transfer of power from...

My advice, as I read out, is that it is a two-thirds majority.

My advice, as I read out, is that it is a two-thirds majority.

My Lords, would it be in order to make a correction in relation to what the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, has just said?

My Lords, would it be in order to make a correction in relation to what the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, has just said?

I have double-checked the voting arrangements. It is a two-thirds majority for combined authority and combined county authority budgets. It is a simple majority, including the mayor, for most other things in a combined authority, and a combined county authority. The Bill does not override existing voting arrangements set out...

I have double-checked the voting arrangements. It is a two-thirds majority for combined authority and combined county authority budgets. It is a simple majority, including the mayor, for most other things in a combined authority, and a combined county authority. The Bill does not override existing voting arrangements set out...