““Rains”” on.

““Rains”” on.

I apologise for being late for the start of the Committee, but I was approving a report for the Greater Manchester authorities on what their attitude should be to EPBs—so it was quite topical. I therefore need to make sure that I declare my interest as chairman of the Association...

I apologise for being late for the start of the Committee, but I was approving a report for the Greater Manchester authorities on what their attitude should be to EPBs—so it was quite topical. I therefore need to make sure that I declare my interest as chairman of the Association...

I will not get into that issue, with respect, because we have had some long debates both in regard to the Bill and the subsequent orders. I assure the Committee that while the Bill allows local authorities the option of inviting non-local authority members onto the EPB, for example, there...

I will not get into that issue, with respect, because we have had some long debates both in regard to the Bill and the subsequent orders. I assure the Committee that while the Bill allows local authorities the option of inviting non-local authority members onto the EPB, for example, there...

I will clarify. When one tries to follow the Government’s logic, one cannot help noticing that there is inconsistency between Bills. In the context of unitary authorities, as we knew from all the orders that went through this House on that subject, there was not compliance in the minds of...

I will clarify. When one tries to follow the Government’s logic, one cannot help noticing that there is inconsistency between Bills. In the context of unitary authorities, as we knew from all the orders that went through this House on that subject, there was not compliance in the minds of...

I have given examples of the kinds of things we can legitimately expect—for example, new skills funding. I shall come back to the noble Lord on that. This is very much work in progress and a lot will depend on what the EPBs themselves feel they want, whether it is...

I have given examples of the kinds of things we can legitimately expect—for example, new skills funding. I shall come back to the noble Lord on that. This is very much work in progress and a lot will depend on what the EPBs themselves feel they want, whether it is...

I shall have to write to the noble Lord about what stage ITAs are at. I am not sufficiently well sighted on this to know the answer, but I will write to him with pleasure before Report. The transfer of statutory powers will depend on exactly what we are talking...

I shall have to write to the noble Lord about what stage ITAs are at. I am not sufficiently well sighted on this to know the answer, but I will write to him with pleasure before Report. The transfer of statutory powers will depend on exactly what we are talking...

No.

No.

Amendment 183B 183B: Clause 83, page 52, line 15, leave out ““prosperity”” and insert ““regeneration””

Amendment 183B 183B: Clause 83, page 52, line 15, leave out ““prosperity”” and insert ““regeneration””

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, for not moving her amendments so that we can avoid a repetitious debate. It is very sporting of her. On Amendment 178A, the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, asked me a specific question taking me back to comment on what the noble...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, for not moving her amendments so that we can avoid a repetitious debate. It is very sporting of her. On Amendment 178A, the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, asked me a specific question taking me back to comment on what the noble...

Amendments 178A, 179B and 180B all seek to ensure that modifications to the draft revision of a regional strategy proposed by the Secretary of State are published for consultation. Again, we look to the involvement of members of the public—or, if you like, the community. Clause 72 sets out the...

Amendments 178A, 179B and 180B all seek to ensure that modifications to the draft revision of a regional strategy proposed by the Secretary of State are published for consultation. Again, we look to the involvement of members of the public—or, if you like, the community. Clause 72 sets out the...

Clause 75: Implementation Amendment 180F 180F: Clause 75, page 49, line 28, leave out subsection (1)

Clause 75: Implementation Amendment 180F 180F: Clause 75, page 49, line 28, leave out subsection (1)

Clause 75 comes under the heading ““Implementation of strategy””. It is a short clause, which is headed ““Implementation””. The nub of it is in Clause 75(1), which reads: "““The responsible regional authorities must produce and publish, and from time to time revise, a plan for implementing the regional strategy for...

Clause 75 comes under the heading ““Implementation of strategy””. It is a short clause, which is headed ““Implementation””. The nub of it is in Clause 75(1), which reads: "““The responsible regional authorities must produce and publish, and from time to time revise, a plan for implementing the regional strategy for...

I was not going to intervene on the amendment but the noble Lord has rather challenged me to say a word. I do not believe that the observations he has made are in any way limited to a Liberal perspective because they reflect completely my experience in the reality of...

I was not going to intervene on the amendment but the noble Lord has rather challenged me to say a word. I do not believe that the observations he has made are in any way limited to a Liberal perspective because they reflect completely my experience in the reality of...

Perhaps I may first respond to that point, which I can clarify. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising it and I can see why she has done so. The formulation that no one has a right to be heard comes directly from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase...

Perhaps I may first respond to that point, which I can clarify. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising it and I can see why she has done so. The formulation that no one has a right to be heard comes directly from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase...

Perhaps I may make a couple of comments before the promoters of the amendments reply to what the Minister said. When she talks about community involvement in the regional strategy, our experience of the regional spatial strategy, as it is now, and of its predecessors is that there is very...

Perhaps I may make a couple of comments before the promoters of the amendments reply to what the Minister said. When she talks about community involvement in the regional strategy, our experience of the regional spatial strategy, as it is now, and of its predecessors is that there is very...

I speak to Amendment 177. This is, I hope, just a drafting issue. If not, it might turn out to be a much bigger problem than originally anticipated. The amendment inserts the words ““an automatic”” into Clause 70(7), so that it would read, ““No person has an automatic right to...

I speak to Amendment 177. This is, I hope, just a drafting issue. If not, it might turn out to be a much bigger problem than originally anticipated. The amendment inserts the words ““an automatic”” into Clause 70(7), so that it would read, ““No person has an automatic right to...

I hope the Minister will take this comment in the right spirit. I do not think that the tone of what the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, said was in any way aggressive. Certainly I made clear that my amendment was probing. I appreciate that the Minister has to respond to...

I hope the Minister will take this comment in the right spirit. I do not think that the tone of what the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, said was in any way aggressive. Certainly I made clear that my amendment was probing. I appreciate that the Minister has to respond to...

Clause 68: Review and revision by responsible regional authorities Amendment 174 174: Clause 68, page 46, line 3, leave out from ““must”” to end of line 4 and insert ““conduct a review of the regional strategy for their region every 5 years””

Clause 68: Review and revision by responsible regional authorities Amendment 174 174: Clause 68, page 46, line 3, leave out from ““must”” to end of line 4 and insert ““conduct a review of the regional strategy for their region every 5 years””

I turn first to the review of the regional strategy. I am pleased to see my noble friend in such good health and good voice, and to see the national parks represented again in the Bill. With regard to the timing of the reviews, Clause 68 requires the regional authorities...

I turn first to the review of the regional strategy. I am pleased to see my noble friend in such good health and good voice, and to see the national parks represented again in the Bill. With regard to the timing of the reviews, Clause 68 requires the regional authorities...

Clause 67: Responsible regional authorities Amendment 172B 172B: Clause 67, page 45, line 39, leave out subsection (2)

Clause 67: Responsible regional authorities Amendment 172B 172B: Clause 67, page 45, line 39, leave out subsection (2)