Localism Bill (CHAP 20 2011); Education Bill (CHAP 21 2011). Royal Assent notified 15 November 2011.

Localism Bill (CHAP 20 2011); Education Bill (CHAP 21 2011). Royal Assent notified 15 November 2011.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect that the Localism Bill would have on United Kingdom freedom of information legislation.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect that the Localism Bill would have on United Kingdom freedom of information legislation.

Lords motion to agree the seventh report from the Procedure Select Committee (HL 206 2010-12). Agreed to on question (formal).

Lords motion to agree the seventh report from the Procedure Select Committee (HL 206 2010-12). Agreed to on question (formal).

Localism Bill. Returned from the Commons with the Lords amendments agreed to.

Localism Bill. Returned from the Commons with the Lords amendments agreed to.

My Lords, there are two Procedure Committee reports on the Order Paper today, and I sense that noble Lords may find the second of these more interesting than the first. But the seventh report also raises important matters, so I shall take a few moments to outline the committee’s recommendations....

My Lords, there are two Procedure Committee reports on the Order Paper today, and I sense that noble Lords may find the second of these more interesting than the first. But the seventh report also raises important matters, so I shall take a few moments to outline the committee’s recommendations....

That the 7th Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 206) be agreed to.

That the 7th Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 206) be agreed to.

To assist my hon. Friend in his point, I add that in my constituency the people of Old Goole are seeking to separate from Goole and form their own parish council. There is a huge argument going on, and the one way in which it could be resolved is through...

To assist my hon. Friend in his point, I add that in my constituency the people of Old Goole are seeking to separate from Goole and form their own parish council. There is a huge argument going on, and the one way in which it could be resolved is through...

Outrageous.

Outrageous.

The hon. Gentleman's Labour council, like every other council in the country, has set a 0% council tax level because this Government, who believe in localism, have come in with an offer they cannot refuse. I was a councillor for four years, and I am afraid that such measures do...

The hon. Gentleman's Labour council, like every other council in the country, has set a 0% council tax level because this Government, who believe in localism, have come in with an offer they cannot refuse. I was a councillor for four years, and I am afraid that such measures do...

I have a brief question. If the amendment is pressed to a vote, would my hon. Friend support it if it included turn-out thresholds, not just trigger-mechanism thresholds?

I have a brief question. If the amendment is pressed to a vote, would my hon. Friend support it if it included turn-out thresholds, not just trigger-mechanism thresholds?

I would not support the amendment for the reasons my hon. Friend just mentioned, because if someone wants to have a referendum that is binding on any subject, they leave themselves open to several problems. My hon. Friend's amendment contains provisions that he feels would deal with that. However, in...

I would not support the amendment for the reasons my hon. Friend just mentioned, because if someone wants to have a referendum that is binding on any subject, they leave themselves open to several problems. My hon. Friend's amendment contains provisions that he feels would deal with that. However, in...

We have had an interesting and wide-ranging debate, with plenty of interest added by Members' personal experiences. I appreciate the decision of my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) not to press amendment (a) to a Division. He will have seen in the course of the debate...

We have had an interesting and wide-ranging debate, with plenty of interest added by Members' personal experiences. I appreciate the decision of my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) not to press amendment (a) to a Division. He will have seen in the course of the debate...

The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. My view—I can speak only for myself—is that democracy means one person, one vote, and that that would apply whether in the City of London or elsewhere.

The hon. Gentleman makes a valid point. My view—I can speak only for myself—is that democracy means one person, one vote, and that that would apply whether in the City of London or elsewhere.

That is incredibly helpful, because although amendment (a) might not be pressed to a vote, the House in due course—fairly rapidly—will need to look at how undemocratic the City of London corporation actually is. There are numerous examples of when a referendum in the City of London on the basis...

That is incredibly helpful, because although amendment (a) might not be pressed to a vote, the House in due course—fairly rapidly—will need to look at how undemocratic the City of London corporation actually is. There are numerous examples of when a referendum in the City of London on the basis...

I apologise to the House for coming so late to the debate. I am afraid I have been chairing a meeting elsewhere. I regret the fact that the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) is not in his place now, but of course he has assiduously attended the rest...

I apologise to the House for coming so late to the debate. I am afraid I have been chairing a meeting elsewhere. I regret the fact that the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) is not in his place now, but of course he has assiduously attended the rest...

Thresholds.

Thresholds.

It actually comes directly from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

It actually comes directly from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

But there is something called the Serious Fraud Office—the fraud squad—and there is a law of the land, so we do not need to pursue such things through the Standards Board. If people misappropriate public funds, they can be reported to the police and there can be an investigation. Sometimes...

But there is something called the Serious Fraud Office—the fraud squad—and there is a law of the land, so we do not need to pursue such things through the Standards Board. If people misappropriate public funds, they can be reported to the police and there can be an investigation. Sometimes...