My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, thank you very much. I apologise to the House for having been unable to take part in the debate earlier. I apologise in particular because it is such an immensely important debate. On the referendum and the manifesto commitment, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham. It...

My Lords, thank you very much. I apologise to the House for having been unable to take part in the debate earlier. I apologise in particular because it is such an immensely important debate. On the referendum and the manifesto commitment, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham. It...

My Lords, the vast number of people I speak to all say exactly the same thing: they voted for a European Economic Community. Since then, there has been huge change. Little by little, stealth by stealth, we have given away sovereign powers over many areas, including judicial, legal and environmental...

My Lords, the vast number of people I speak to all say exactly the same thing: they voted for a European Economic Community. Since then, there has been huge change. Little by little, stealth by stealth, we have given away sovereign powers over many areas, including judicial, legal and environmental...

moved Amendment No. 246CA: 246CA: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England (1) There is to be a body corporate called the Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England. (2) Schedule (The Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England)...

moved Amendment No. 246CA: 246CA: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England (1) There is to be a body corporate called the Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England. (2) Schedule (The Independent Commission for Local Government Finance for England)...

moved Amendment No. 246CB: 246CB: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Community strategies to promote well-being ( ) In section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22) (strategies for promoting well-being), after subsection (1) insert— ““(1A) A community strategy prepared under subsection (1) or modified under...

moved Amendment No. 246CB: 246CB: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Community strategies to promote well-being ( ) In section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22) (strategies for promoting well-being), after subsection (1) insert— ““(1A) A community strategy prepared under subsection (1) or modified under...

I am grateful for the responses. Perhaps I did not explain that, as in Australia, the base increase in grant is always set by the Government. That is the Government’s job. It is simply the distribution, equalisation, population, demographic changes and the cost of new legislation which goes to the...

I am grateful for the responses. Perhaps I did not explain that, as in Australia, the base increase in grant is always set by the Government. That is the Government’s job. It is simply the distribution, equalisation, population, demographic changes and the cost of new legislation which goes to the...

I thank the Minister for that. The noble Lord, Lord Graham, put his finger on it by saying that there is not a common understanding here, which is why we need a reporting mechanism. Central government thinks that the burden of bureaucracy is getting less and local government feels that...

I thank the Minister for that. The noble Lord, Lord Graham, put his finger on it by saying that there is not a common understanding here, which is why we need a reporting mechanism. Central government thinks that the burden of bureaucracy is getting less and local government feels that...

I also support the amendment. Democracy simply does not work without information, so this is an important amendment. We have heard a great deal, quite rightly, from the Government about the importance of strong leadership—indeed, it is a theme throughout the Bill. You cannot have strong leadership and people setting...

I also support the amendment. Democracy simply does not work without information, so this is an important amendment. We have heard a great deal, quite rightly, from the Government about the importance of strong leadership—indeed, it is a theme throughout the Bill. You cannot have strong leadership and people setting...

moved Amendment No. 246A: 246A: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Secretary of State to report on local government targets and plans (1) The Secretary of State must prepare an annual report on progress during the previous 12 months to reduce the administrative burden for local government of...

moved Amendment No. 246A: 246A: After Clause 238, insert the following new Clause— ““Secretary of State to report on local government targets and plans (1) The Secretary of State must prepare an annual report on progress during the previous 12 months to reduce the administrative burden for local government of...

I thank the noble Baroness for her reply. I am grateful that she shares my objectives and motives, and I hope that we can continue to discuss this matter. I was not sure that I agreed with her when she said that equity means that we have to have a...

I thank the noble Baroness for her reply. I am grateful that she shares my objectives and motives, and I hope that we can continue to discuss this matter. I was not sure that I agreed with her when she said that equity means that we have to have a...

I add my support to this group of amendments, particularly Amendment No. 238KG, on, "““supporting members of local involvement networks to obtain””," their experiences. I wish to add to my noble friend Lord Howe’s search for clarity on the purpose of LINks. Perhaps I may use an example from my...

I add my support to this group of amendments, particularly Amendment No. 238KG, on, "““supporting members of local involvement networks to obtain””," their experiences. I wish to add to my noble friend Lord Howe’s search for clarity on the purpose of LINks. Perhaps I may use an example from my...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that often it is simply the lack of infrastructure funding, particularly for transport, not the issue of targets, that has held back the delivery? Today we are completing some 40 per cent fewer houses a year than we were in the 1970s. To give...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that often it is simply the lack of infrastructure funding, particularly for transport, not the issue of targets, that has held back the delivery? Today we are completing some 40 per cent fewer houses a year than we were in the 1970s. To give...

I am confused. Clause 206(2) states: "““A proposal under this section may be made by (and only by) all the local authorities””." Does that not imply that it has to be made by the district and the county authority—all the authorities within the area? That does not refer just to...

I am confused. Clause 206(2) states: "““A proposal under this section may be made by (and only by) all the local authorities””." Does that not imply that it has to be made by the district and the county authority—all the authorities within the area? That does not refer just to...

Perhaps I may respond to that. My own view and, I believe, that of the Local Government Association, which is shared by my noble friend Lord Hanningfield, is that joint waste authorities would be extremely helpful. The first part of Clause 206 is entirely clear. I understood, and supported the...

Perhaps I may respond to that. My own view and, I believe, that of the Local Government Association, which is shared by my noble friend Lord Hanningfield, is that joint waste authorities would be extremely helpful. The first part of Clause 206 is entirely clear. I understood, and supported the...

I have trouble accepting that the noble Baroness is saying that ““all”” might mean ““any”” in this phrase: "““A proposal under this section may be made by (and only by) all””." ““All”” cannot possibly mean ““any””. ““All”” can only mean ““all””. I am grateful that the noble Baroness might write...

I have trouble accepting that the noble Baroness is saying that ““all”” might mean ““any”” in this phrase: "““A proposal under this section may be made by (and only by) all””." ““All”” cannot possibly mean ““any””. ““All”” can only mean ““all””. I am grateful that the noble Baroness might write...

I was not talking about Kent County Council either; I was talking about my experience across the country. While I agree that there are differences in some cases in the quality of councillors and the effectiveness of service provision, the standards of integrity are universally high across England. I have...

I was not talking about Kent County Council either; I was talking about my experience across the country. While I agree that there are differences in some cases in the quality of councillors and the effectiveness of service provision, the standards of integrity are universally high across England. I have...

I am troubled by this clause of the Bill. I support the amendment and what my noble friend Lady Hanham said about a person’s private life not being included. I am not entirely clear what this clause is trying to achieve. What do we think is the problem? As I...

I am troubled by this clause of the Bill. I support the amendment and what my noble friend Lady Hanham said about a person’s private life not being included. I am not entirely clear what this clause is trying to achieve. What do we think is the problem? As I...

I am also happy to support the amendment. Social housing issues are, as we all know, immensely important and a great deal of public money is directly involved in registered social landlords. The point about consistency in providing information, as raised by my noble friend Lady Hanham, is important. Information...

I am also happy to support the amendment. Social housing issues are, as we all know, immensely important and a great deal of public money is directly involved in registered social landlords. The point about consistency in providing information, as raised by my noble friend Lady Hanham, is important. Information...

I fully support my noble friend Lady Hanham on this issue. I am of course no longer chairman of the Local Government Association, but I can say how strongly the LGA feels about this issue. As a member of a local authority, I know that some individual issues that come...

I fully support my noble friend Lady Hanham on this issue. I am of course no longer chairman of the Local Government Association, but I can say how strongly the LGA feels about this issue. As a member of a local authority, I know that some individual issues that come...

I am trying to follow the argument. I believe that the Minister is saying that these can be referred to the crime and disorder committees. Members of local authorities, in referring these to the local authorities themselves, see that the crime and disorder issues are intrinsically linked to youth, education,...

I am trying to follow the argument. I believe that the Minister is saying that these can be referred to the crime and disorder committees. Members of local authorities, in referring these to the local authorities themselves, see that the crime and disorder issues are intrinsically linked to youth, education,...