Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, this order was laid before Parliament on 15 October last year under the powers of the Public Bodies Act 2011. It provides for the abolition of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board.

The board provides independent advice to the Secretary of State on matters relating to disability living allowance...

My Lords, this order was laid before Parliament on 15 October last year under the powers of the Public Bodies Act 2011. It provides for the abolition of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board.

The board provides independent advice to the Secretary of State on matters relating to disability living allowance...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her introduction to this order which, as has been described, abolishes the DLA advisory board. I join the noble Baroness in paying tribute to those who have served on the board over the years and all the work that they have done....

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her introduction to this order which, as has been described, abolishes the DLA advisory board. I join the noble Baroness in paying tribute to those who have served on the board over the years and all the work that they have done....

My Lords, I will start by responding to the question the noble Lord asked about why the DLA advisory board could not become what is commonly described as a “task and finish group”. The noble Lord may not have noticed, but I resisted using that phrase in my opening speech...

My Lords, I will start by responding to the question the noble Lord asked about why the DLA advisory board could not become what is commonly described as a “task and finish group”. The noble Lord may not have noticed, but I resisted using that phrase in my opening speech...

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (9 votes to 6).

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (9 votes to 6).

Public Bodies Bill [Lords]. Committee stage third sitting (morning). Written evidence reported to the House. Schedule 1, discussed with new clause 1, new schedule 1, and new clause 3, under consideration.

Public Bodies Bill [Lords]. Committee stage third sitting (morning). Written evidence reported to the House. Schedule 1, discussed with new clause 1, new schedule 1, and new clause 3, under consideration.

My Lords, I strongly support my noble friend’s amendment. The way in which she has constructed her argument in terms of six precise questions behoves the Government to give a clear answer, either tonight or in writing, as to how they see the future for consumer protection in the regime...

My Lords, I strongly support my noble friend’s amendment. The way in which she has constructed her argument in terms of six precise questions behoves the Government to give a clear answer, either tonight or in writing, as to how they see the future for consumer protection in the regime...

My Lords, it is a while since I first addressed the House with regard to this Bill. I start my present remarks by saying that I acknowledge that the Government have made a significant improvement to the Bill in the action that they have taken. I congratulate the Minister and...

My Lords, it is a while since I first addressed the House with regard to this Bill. I start my present remarks by saying that I acknowledge that the Government have made a significant improvement to the Bill in the action that they have taken. I congratulate the Minister and...

Before the Minister sits down, perhaps I may first confirm that there will be discussions tomorrow. We very much hope that the pith and substance of Amendment 175 will be retained, subject to drafting improvements. One hopes that that will lead to a result that we can all agree upon....

Before the Minister sits down, perhaps I may first confirm that there will be discussions tomorrow. We very much hope that the pith and substance of Amendment 175 will be retained, subject to drafting improvements. One hopes that that will lead to a result that we can all agree upon....

My Lords, in moving Amendment 31 on behalf of my noble friend Lord Bach, I intend also to speak to other amendments in the first group. The Government have, during the Recess, had a little time to reflect on the Bill. The Minister will know of the evidence given by...

My Lords, in moving Amendment 31 on behalf of my noble friend Lord Bach, I intend also to speak to other amendments in the first group. The Government have, during the Recess, had a little time to reflect on the Bill. The Minister will know of the evidence given by...

31: Schedule 1, page 16, line 24, leave out ““Courts boards.””

31: Schedule 1, page 16, line 24, leave out ““Courts boards.””

If the Advisory Council on Libraries is allowed to continue, it may be about to have its finest hour. I suspect that my local authority, Suffolk County Council, will be the same as many councils in having to shed a great many of its libraries on to charitable bodies that...

If the Advisory Council on Libraries is allowed to continue, it may be about to have its finest hour. I suspect that my local authority, Suffolk County Council, will be the same as many councils in having to shed a great many of its libraries on to charitable bodies that...

I rise to support the noble Baroness on her interesting probing amendment. Over the years, I have spoken several times about libraries, particularly during the previous Conservative Administration when there was some concern that local authorities were not supporting libraries as they needed to be supported to react to changes...

I rise to support the noble Baroness on her interesting probing amendment. Over the years, I have spoken several times about libraries, particularly during the previous Conservative Administration when there was some concern that local authorities were not supporting libraries as they needed to be supported to react to changes...

My Lords, Amendment 41 is intended to be a probing amendment. The Advisory Council on Libraries developed the policy document that formed the basis of current public library provision. Public libraries are one of our national treasures and in all the countries that I have visited, including the most developed,...

My Lords, Amendment 41 is intended to be a probing amendment. The Advisory Council on Libraries developed the policy document that formed the basis of current public library provision. Public libraries are one of our national treasures and in all the countries that I have visited, including the most developed,...

41: Schedule 1, page 17, line 4, leave out ““Library Advisory Council for England.””

41: Schedule 1, page 17, line 4, leave out ““Library Advisory Council for England.””

It is with a degree of trepidation that I rise to speak on issues of libraries, particularly with my noble friend Lord Evans of Temple Guiting sitting on the Front Bench. He is of course far more knowledgeable than I am and has been engaged in this subject for a...

It is with a degree of trepidation that I rise to speak on issues of libraries, particularly with my noble friend Lord Evans of Temple Guiting sitting on the Front Bench. He is of course far more knowledgeable than I am and has been engaged in this subject for a...

My Lords, I compliment the speakers this evening on giving their thoughts on the Inland Waterways Advisory Council. I suggest that this body has been included in this part of the Bill to add some weight, but the timing has not been properly considered. In rural areas, the inland waterways...

My Lords, I compliment the speakers this evening on giving their thoughts on the Inland Waterways Advisory Council. I suggest that this body has been included in this part of the Bill to add some weight, but the timing has not been properly considered. In rural areas, the inland waterways...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I am sure that the members of the IWAC will have been heartened by his opening comments about the useful input that they have provided to waterways policy. He could have been a little more fulsome, but at least the remarks...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I am sure that the members of the IWAC will have been heartened by his opening comments about the useful input that they have provided to waterways policy. He could have been a little more fulsome, but at least the remarks...

The Government will always need to have a policy on these and a great deal of other matters, but policy should be a matter for the department, Ministers and the Government and not for a body such as this. Therefore, we do not see that it is necessary in the...

The Government will always need to have a policy on these and a great deal of other matters, but policy should be a matter for the department, Ministers and the Government and not for a body such as this. Therefore, we do not see that it is necessary in the...