My Lords, the word ““consensus”” brings me to my feet. The Government have told us on a number of occasions that they are seeking consensus, particularly in going forward to find the new composition of this House. They are conducting themselves in that regard as though consensus existed in favour...

My Lords, the word ““consensus”” brings me to my feet. The Government have told us on a number of occasions that they are seeking consensus, particularly in going forward to find the new composition of this House. They are conducting themselves in that regard as though consensus existed in favour...

My Lords, I am immensely grateful to my noble friends and other noble Lords for their support of my amendment. I will just make a couple of points to the Minister. First, on the crucial issue of consensus, which several noble Lords have raised, the Minister used a very interesting...

My Lords, I am immensely grateful to my noble friends and other noble Lords for their support of my amendment. I will just make a couple of points to the Minister. First, on the crucial issue of consensus, which several noble Lords have raised, the Minister used a very interesting...

My Lords, the Minister will recall my presence in the Moses Room during the longest county debate on Thursday, but Divisions in the Chamber, which could not have been predicted a week earlier, robbed me of a chance to speak on Wiltshire because of an alternative engagement. I therefore thank...

My Lords, the Minister will recall my presence in the Moses Room during the longest county debate on Thursday, but Divisions in the Chamber, which could not have been predicted a week earlier, robbed me of a chance to speak on Wiltshire because of an alternative engagement. I therefore thank...

My Lords, I hope for two reasons that noble Lords do not support the amendment. First, there has been no suggestion at any stage in dealing with any of these orders that consensus means the result of a plebiscite. Local government reorganisation, whether in 1974 or David Curry’s reorganisation in...

My Lords, I hope for two reasons that noble Lords do not support the amendment. First, there has been no suggestion at any stage in dealing with any of these orders that consensus means the result of a plebiscite. Local government reorganisation, whether in 1974 or David Curry’s reorganisation in...

rose to move, as an amendment to the Motion, at end to insert ““but this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government to withdraw the draft order and not to lay an amended draft order until the Court of Appeal has issued its judgment in Congleton Borough Council and Shrewsbury &...

rose to move, as an amendment to the Motion, at end to insert ““but this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government to withdraw the draft order and not to lay an amended draft order until the Court of Appeal has issued its judgment in Congleton Borough Council and Shrewsbury &...

My Lords, I beg to move the fifth Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 8 January be approved. 6th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, 7th Report from the Merits Committee, Considered in Grand Committee...

My Lords, I beg to move the fifth Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 8 January be approved. 6th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, 7th Report from the Merits Committee, Considered in Grand Committee...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, for trying to assist the Government this afternoon. I have listened intently to what noble Lords have said. We had a good debate on Thursday. We debated each of the orders in turn and went into considerable detail....

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, for trying to assist the Government this afternoon. I have listened intently to what noble Lords have said. We had a good debate on Thursday. We debated each of the orders in turn and went into considerable detail....

My Lords, I have great sympathy with what the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, said. I declare an interest as a Northumberland county councillor and a Berwick borough councillor, although I shall not be standing for the new unitary authority. I recognise the problems. I was not able to be here...

My Lords, I have great sympathy with what the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, said. I declare an interest as a Northumberland county councillor and a Berwick borough councillor, although I shall not be standing for the new unitary authority. I recognise the problems. I was not able to be here...

My Lords, I have great sympathy with the frustration expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, and others in debating this Motion today. It is all the more frustrating because the difficulties with which local government reorganisation is now beset were predictable; indeed, they were predicted by these Benches when...

My Lords, I have great sympathy with the frustration expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, and others in debating this Motion today. It is all the more frustrating because the difficulties with which local government reorganisation is now beset were predictable; indeed, they were predicted by these Benches when...

My Lords, I crave the forgiveness of the House because I came in on the end of the remarks made by the noble Lord, Lord Geddes. However, I was struck by something that he said about awaiting a decision affecting both Wiltshire and Congleton Borough Council. I will be taking...

My Lords, I crave the forgiveness of the House because I came in on the end of the remarks made by the noble Lord, Lord Geddes. However, I was struck by something that he said about awaiting a decision affecting both Wiltshire and Congleton Borough Council. I will be taking...

Draft SI on Wiltshire (Structural Change). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Amendment withdrawn. Main question agreed to on question.

Draft SI on Wiltshire (Structural Change). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Amendment withdrawn. Main question agreed to on question.

What level of grant is to be paid by central government to the Congleton Borough Council in the coming financial year; and what were the amounts paid in each of the previous five years for which figures are available taking into account any relevant changes in local authority responsibilities. -...

What level of grant is to be paid by central government to the Congleton Borough Council in the coming financial year; and what were the amounts paid in each of the previous five years for which figures are available taking into account any relevant changes in local authority responsibilities. -...

What information he has concerning: (a) the average length of time currently taken by a local authority to re-let vacant homes and (b) the average length of time taken by the Congleton Borough Council to re-let vacant homes. - Includes ref to 1988 survey, "Empty Local Authority Dwellings in England...

What information he has concerning: (a) the average length of time currently taken by a local authority to re-let vacant homes and (b) the average length of time taken by the Congleton Borough Council to re-let vacant homes. - Includes ref to 1988 survey, "Empty Local Authority Dwellings in England...