We know that local government is feeling the pressures after 14 years that did not bode well for local and public services. We understand the pressures associated with national insurance, which is why the Treasury has committed £515 million to support councils in that endeavour. I am more than happy to meet the right hon. Gentleman about his particular circumstance.

We know that local government is feeling the pressures after 14 years that did not bode well for local and public services. We understand the pressures associated with national insurance, which is why the Treasury has committed £515 million to support councils in that endeavour. I am more than happy to meet the right hon. Gentleman about his particular circumstance.

On Friday, I met the leader of Wiltshire council, who asserts that the way the Government have calculated the distribution of compensation between in-house and commissioned services means that Wiltshire has not fared well in the local government settlement that was announced on 18 December. Will the Minister meet me so that I can better understand the thinking and relay it back to the leader of my council?

On Friday, I met the leader of Wiltshire council, who asserts that the way the Government have calculated the distribution of compensation between in-house and commissioned services means that Wiltshire has not fared well in the local government settlement that was announced on 18 December. Will the Minister meet me so that I can better understand the thinking and relay it back to the leader of my council?

Letter dated 08/01/2019 from Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth to Lords regarding issues raised following the statement on the provisional local government finance settlement: interaction with the budget, local government services, core spending power, social care, local authority borrowing, high streets, the Salisbury incident, and Universal Credit. 4p.

Letter dated 08/01/2019 from Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth to Lords regarding issues raised following the statement on the provisional local government finance settlement: interaction with the budget, local government services, core spending power, social care, local authority borrowing, high streets, the Salisbury incident, and Universal Credit. 4p.

I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for her remarks. Out of courtesy to her—I mean that—I think it only fair to advise her that I will now be taking advice about what steps might be appropriate when approval comes through on Monday. On Question, Motion agreed to.

I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for her remarks. Out of courtesy to her—I mean that—I think it only fair to advise her that I will now be taking advice about what steps might be appropriate when approval comes through on Monday. On Question, Motion agreed to.

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: This order, which was laid on 8 January, establishes the new unitary Wiltshire Council. It implements a proposal which Wiltshire County Council submitted to...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Wiltshire (Structural Change) Order 2008. The noble Baroness said: This order, which was laid on 8 January, establishes the new unitary Wiltshire Council. It implements a proposal which Wiltshire County Council submitted to...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for going through that process. He was absolutely correct about the judgment that we had before Christmas. We were able to proceed. However, as I said in my opening speech, we wanted to reduce the delay and disruption as much as possible to...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for going through that process. He was absolutely correct about the judgment that we had before Christmas. We were able to proceed. However, as I said in my opening speech, we wanted to reduce the delay and disruption as much as possible to...

Has the Minister any feel at all for when the results of the appeal will be available? I understand that the case has been looked into and it is just that the decision has been deferred. If that is correct and if it is a matter of, say, a week—I...

Has the Minister any feel at all for when the results of the appeal will be available? I understand that the case has been looked into and it is just that the decision has been deferred. If that is correct and if it is a matter of, say, a week—I...

A month?

A month?

I hesitate to intervene but I have a general question about all the orders. The wording in Article 6 of each of them is similar, stating: "““On the coming into force of this Order there shall be added to the functions of the Wiltshire council the function, which is to...

I hesitate to intervene but I have a general question about all the orders. The wording in Article 6 of each of them is similar, stating: "““On the coming into force of this Order there shall be added to the functions of the Wiltshire council the function, which is to...

My information may not be correct but I was told by the Government Whips’ Office this morning that the Motions for approval of these orders will be going through the House on Monday.

My information may not be correct but I was told by the Government Whips’ Office this morning that the Motions for approval of these orders will be going through the House on Monday.

Yes. I was grateful for how the noble Lord addressed the other important points. With regard to what he said about the degree of detailed scrutiny in the other place, we have more detached debate on these issues in this place, and it is incumbent on me seriously to address...

Yes. I was grateful for how the noble Lord addressed the other important points. With regard to what he said about the degree of detailed scrutiny in the other place, we have more detached debate on these issues in this place, and it is incumbent on me seriously to address...

I intervene not as an expert—I am in a minority of one on that score—but simply as a resident of Wiltshire. I have four brief points for the Minister, and then a request. The first, smallest, point is that the Minister said in her opening remarks that there has been...

I intervene not as an expert—I am in a minority of one on that score—but simply as a resident of Wiltshire. I have four brief points for the Minister, and then a request. The first, smallest, point is that the Minister said in her opening remarks that there has been...

In that case, we are hardly waiting for the result of the appeal, unless it is coming out tomorrow.

In that case, we are hardly waiting for the result of the appeal, unless it is coming out tomorrow.

It is perfectly proper and correct for us to deal with these orders on Monday. We shall not have the result of the appeal by then, obviously. We shall await the judgment and, depending on the options that we face, respond accordingly. I am afraid that I cannot say more...

It is perfectly proper and correct for us to deal with these orders on Monday. We shall not have the result of the appeal by then, obviously. We shall await the judgment and, depending on the options that we face, respond accordingly. I am afraid that I cannot say more...

I know that it will be before Easter but it is unlikely to be within a week. It will be a matter of weeks.

I know that it will be before Easter but it is unlikely to be within a week. It will be a matter of weeks.

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

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

The noble Lord is quite right: two-thirds did not. I cannot argue with that. I was making a general point about the Electoral Reform Society. Many districts commissioned their own polls by postal votes, campaign cards and so on, and the Electoral Reform Society was involved in collecting the product,...

The noble Lord is quite right: two-thirds did not. I cannot argue with that. I was making a general point about the Electoral Reform Society. Many districts commissioned their own polls by postal votes, campaign cards and so on, and the Electoral Reform Society was involved in collecting the product,...

I am most grateful to the noble Baroness. I have just two points. First, on the ““favourable”” statistics that she cited, if I can call them that—and she is quite right to cite them in the Government’s favour—she mentioned the remark about the Electoral Reform Society not quite having supervision...

I am most grateful to the noble Baroness. I have just two points. First, on the ““favourable”” statistics that she cited, if I can call them that—and she is quite right to cite them in the Government’s favour—she mentioned the remark about the Electoral Reform Society not quite having supervision...

That is correct.

That is correct.