On Monday 22 March the House approved by 169 to 110 an amendment, moved by Baroness Butler-Sloss, to the motion to approve the draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 ("the Norwich order") which inserted at the end of the motion""but this House regrets that Her Majesty's Government have...

On Monday 22 March the House approved by 169 to 110 an amendment, moved by Baroness Butler-Sloss, to the motion to approve the draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 ("the Norwich order") which inserted at the end of the motion""but this House regrets that Her Majesty's Government have...

On Monday 22 March, the House approved by 169 to 110 an amendment, moved by Baroness Butler-Sloss, to the motion to approve the draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 (the Norwich Order) which inserted at the end of the motion, ""but this House regrets that Her Majesty’s Government...

On Monday 22 March, the House approved by 169 to 110 an amendment, moved by Baroness Butler-Sloss, to the motion to approve the draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 (the Norwich Order) which inserted at the end of the motion, ""but this House regrets that Her Majesty’s Government...

As I understand it, the Government agreed last night to a Motion that expected the Government not to implement this order until certain things have been done. That was the express will of the Government. Will the Minister explain how they can proceed to implement the order as though they...

As I understand it, the Government agreed last night to a Motion that expected the Government not to implement this order until certain things have been done. That was the express will of the Government. Will the Minister explain how they can proceed to implement the order as though they...

To ask Her Majesty's Government to make a statement regarding the implications for the Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 and the Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010 following the acceptance of the motions of regret passed in the House of Lords.

To ask Her Majesty's Government to make a statement regarding the implications for the Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 and the Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010 following the acceptance of the motions of regret passed in the House of Lords.

My Lords, the Government welcome the House’s approval last night of the Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 and the Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010, and are disappointed that the House has regretted that the draft orders were laid. We are considering the House’s request not to...

My Lords, the Government welcome the House’s approval last night of the Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010 and the Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010, and are disappointed that the House has regretted that the draft orders were laid. We are considering the House’s request not to...

My Lords, the noble Lord gives me an open goal, if I may say so. It is a matter for the Opposition to choose how to vote on the issue. I see that they did not have common cause on this with the Liberal Democrats, but it is for them...

My Lords, the noble Lord gives me an open goal, if I may say so. It is a matter for the Opposition to choose how to vote on the issue. I see that they did not have common cause on this with the Liberal Democrats, but it is for them...

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right; we should await the deliberations of the other place on this matter.

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right; we should await the deliberations of the other place on this matter.

My Lords, on my noble friend’s second point, this seems to me entirely appropriate. Regarding his first point, I, like him, value unitary government. I understand his experience in Telford. It mirrors my experience in Luton, where unitary government has transformed the prospects of our town.

My Lords, on my noble friend’s second point, this seems to me entirely appropriate. Regarding his first point, I, like him, value unitary government. I understand his experience in Telford. It mirrors my experience in Luton, where unitary government has transformed the prospects of our town.

My Lords, I am bound to say that this is complete nonsense and a waste of the time of your Lordships’ House. We debated this thing endlessly yesterday, and the noble Lord has raised nothing that we did not debate in three and a half hours of fairly intense and...

My Lords, I am bound to say that this is complete nonsense and a waste of the time of your Lordships’ House. We debated this thing endlessly yesterday, and the noble Lord has raised nothing that we did not debate in three and a half hours of fairly intense and...

Draft Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations 2010, draft Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80BB to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations 2010, draft Additional Paternity Leave Regulations 2010, draft Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (General) Regulations 2010, draft Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (Consequential Amendments) (England and Wales) Order 2010 and the Value Added Tax (Buildings and Land) Order 2010. Motions to approve. Agreed on question. Draft Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010. Agreed on division (251 to 163). Draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010. Agreed on division (249 to 171).

Draft Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations 2010, draft Employment Rights Act 1996 (Application of Section 80BB to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations 2010, draft Additional Paternity Leave Regulations 2010, draft Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (General) Regulations 2010, draft Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (Consequential Amendments) (England and...

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that two quite different sets of issues were discussed? One group of issues related to the process whereby the Government reached their decision; the other group of issues related to the substantive question of whether it is appropriate that municipal self-government should be...

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that two quite different sets of issues were discussed? One group of issues related to the process whereby the Government reached their decision; the other group of issues related to the substantive question of whether it is appropriate that municipal self-government should be...

My Lords, has not this House over time respected the convention that the unelected House does not overturn the elected House, however strongly we may feel about the substantive issue? Therefore, would it not be inappropriate for my noble friend to tell us today what the Government intend to do...

My Lords, has not this House over time respected the convention that the unelected House does not overturn the elected House, however strongly we may feel about the substantive issue? Therefore, would it not be inappropriate for my noble friend to tell us today what the Government intend to do...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is a bit rich for the noble Lord to lecture us about dithering when he led his colleagues to abstain on the one Motion that could have brought this matter to a conclusion last night and rendered today’s PNQ entirely unnecessary?

My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is a bit rich for the noble Lord to lecture us about dithering when he led his colleagues to abstain on the one Motion that could have brought this matter to a conclusion last night and rendered today’s PNQ entirely unnecessary?

My Lords, as someone who sat throughout the debate yesterday, but decided not to speak because I thought that it had already gone on at an interminable length, I was unable to make the following point. Unitary local government, brought in by a Conservative Government—to their great credit—in Telford, has...

My Lords, as someone who sat throughout the debate yesterday, but decided not to speak because I thought that it had already gone on at an interminable length, I was unable to make the following point. Unitary local government, brought in by a Conservative Government—to their great credit—in Telford, has...

I thank the Minister for his response, which is effectively saying that the Government are still considering this matter. I ask the Minister to respond with regard to the votes that occurred yesterday evening. He will be aware that he and his party voted against the Motion standing in the...

I thank the Minister for his response, which is effectively saying that the Government are still considering this matter. I ask the Minister to respond with regard to the votes that occurred yesterday evening. He will be aware that he and his party voted against the Motion standing in the...

My Lords, we did not agree to the Motion; we accepted the second amendment because we lost the first one—I am bound to say fairly comprehensively. It was for the convenience of the House. There is no point in causing people to have to go through the Lobbies again. That...

My Lords, we did not agree to the Motion; we accepted the second amendment because we lost the first one—I am bound to say fairly comprehensively. It was for the convenience of the House. There is no point in causing people to have to go through the Lobbies again. That...

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that it is time that we brought this to a conclusion. He is right in a sense that yesterday’s debate touched on issues of process as well as on substantive issues. Sometimes they were conflated. I repeat that we intend to lay...

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that it is time that we brought this to a conclusion. He is right in a sense that yesterday’s debate touched on issues of process as well as on substantive issues. Sometimes they were conflated. I repeat that we intend to lay...

Draft Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010; draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Agreed to on division (9 votes to 5 on separate divisions).

Draft Exeter and Devon (Structural Changes) Order 2010; draft Norwich and Norfolk (Structural Changes) Order 2010. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Agreed to on division (9 votes to 5 on separate divisions).