I shall resist the temptation to skip to page 30 of my speech and resume where I left off. I was about to explain to the Committee our general approach; our precise approach to assessing proposals, especially when looking at the criteria against which we have made our judgments; and...

I shall resist the temptation to skip to page 30 of my speech and resume where I left off. I was about to explain to the Committee our general approach; our precise approach to assessing proposals, especially when looking at the criteria against which we have made our judgments; and...

I was explaining what we intended to do about parish councils. My right honourable friend said this in the other place in response to similar concerns; we have always recognised that six-year terms are not ideal, so with the 2009 elections we would ask the implementation executive to consult the...

I was explaining what we intended to do about parish councils. My right honourable friend said this in the other place in response to similar concerns; we have always recognised that six-year terms are not ideal, so with the 2009 elections we would ask the implementation executive to consult the...

The letter that I have from the City of Durham informs me that the decision has been taken—one assumes by the implementation directive—to, "““badge the elections to the new unitary authority as ‘Durham County Council’””." In other words, it is acting in contravention of the order. This could be seen...

The letter that I have from the City of Durham informs me that the decision has been taken—one assumes by the implementation directive—to, "““badge the elections to the new unitary authority as ‘Durham County Council’””." In other words, it is acting in contravention of the order. This could be seen...

I am very grateful to the noble Baroness for drawing that to our attention, and our officials will write to follow up that point. I think that I have addressed most of the issues that were raised. With regard to the point about capability, if the orders come into effect...

I am very grateful to the noble Baroness for drawing that to our attention, and our officials will write to follow up that point. I think that I have addressed most of the issues that were raised. With regard to the point about capability, if the orders come into effect...

Absolutely finally, there will need to be further regulations covering areas subject to reorganisation, and they will deal with matters such as staffing, transfers of functions, assets and liabilities, finance, ceremonial matters and so on. We will be bringing forward those regulations over the coming months as we work them...

Absolutely finally, there will need to be further regulations covering areas subject to reorganisation, and they will deal with matters such as staffing, transfers of functions, assets and liabilities, finance, ceremonial matters and so on. We will be bringing forward those regulations over the coming months as we work them...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: The order was laid on 8 January. Today we are debating five orders which bring into effect unitary authorities for Northumberland, Wiltshire, Durham, Cornwall...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: The order was laid on 8 January. Today we are debating five orders which bring into effect unitary authorities for Northumberland, Wiltshire, Durham, Cornwall...

My Lords, I am grateful for noble Lords’ contributions and particularly for the support of my noble friend, who captured precisely why we went about things in the way that we did. In these debates, I am always conscious that I am confronting noble Lords with many years of experience...

My Lords, I am grateful for noble Lords’ contributions and particularly for the support of my noble friend, who captured precisely why we went about things in the way that we did. In these debates, I am always conscious that I am confronting noble Lords with many years of experience...

This has been a fascinating debate. As the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, said, it has been almost like a Second Reading debate: very thoughtful and much informed by people who have had many years’ experience in local government, which shows. Like the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, I was involved in...

This has been a fascinating debate. As the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, said, it has been almost like a Second Reading debate: very thoughtful and much informed by people who have had many years’ experience in local government, which shows. Like the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith, I was involved in...

I thank the Minister for her introduction. Adopting what is almost a Second Reading procedure is absolutely right on this occasion, and I will respond in the same way. I will make most of my remarks now, and only refer occasionally to specifics on each order—unless I am provoked. We...

I thank the Minister for her introduction. Adopting what is almost a Second Reading procedure is absolutely right on this occasion, and I will respond in the same way. I will make most of my remarks now, and only refer occasionally to specifics on each order—unless I am provoked. We...

I rise with a heavy heart. None the less, I am very grateful to the Minister for the way in which she has opened this afternoon’s proceedings so that we can have a general discussion about the issue. That will take a little time but the orders are all very...

I rise with a heavy heart. None the less, I am very grateful to the Minister for the way in which she has opened this afternoon’s proceedings so that we can have a general discussion about the issue. That will take a little time but the orders are all very...

Draft Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Northumberland (Structural Change) Order 2008. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft SI on Northumberland (Structural Change). (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Laid before Parliament for approval by resolution of each House. Coming into force in accordance with article 1. Replaces draft SI laid 17 December.

Draft SI on Northumberland (Structural Change). (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Laid before Parliament for approval by resolution of each House. Coming into force in accordance with article 1. Replaces draft SI laid 17 December.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by (a) Northumberland county council, (b) Tynedale district council and (c) Castle Morpeth borough council has been financed from council tax in each year since 16 January 1996.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by (a) Northumberland county council, (b) Tynedale district council and (c) Castle Morpeth borough council has been financed from council tax in each year since 16 January 1996.

Report by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate: Castle Morpeth Borough Council. 169 p. DWP/BFI. 2003.

Report by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate: Castle Morpeth Borough Council. 169 p. DWP/BFI. 2003.

Written Statement on publication of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report on Castle Morpeth Borough Council. (Inc figs and fact that copy in the Library Dep 03/2167).

Written Statement on publication of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report on Castle Morpeth Borough Council. (Inc figs and fact that copy in the Library Dep 03/2167).

SI 1998/2047 (Negative instrument). Coming into force 17 September 1998.

SI 1998/2047 (Negative instrument). Coming into force 17 September 1998.