New Clause 9 — Regulations about powers to require information, offences and penalties

Part of Local Government Finance Bill – in the House of Commons at 5:15 pm on 21 May 2012.

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Photo of Nick Raynsford Nick Raynsford Labour, Greenwich and Woolwich 5:15, 21 May 2012

I draw attention to my interests as declared in the register.

This is a shocking example of how not to legislate. It is three months and 21 days since we completed a rushed Committee stage on the Floor of the House, and during that time, the Government have sat on their hands. Why, during that period, did we not have proper time to discuss the Bill’s very serious implications? Why did the Government not use it to publish the draft regulations that the Minister promised in the debate on 31 January? I remind him of what he said:

“I recognise, of course, that local authorities and suppliers need as much information as possible as soon as possible. For that reason, we intend to publish draft regulations while the Bill is still before the House.”

My right hon. Friend John Healey sharply picked up on that and asked the Minister whether he meant

“this House or the other House”.

The Minister replied:

“I am looking for a nod somewhere”— he was clearly in need of guidance—

“but let us stick with this House.”—[Hansard, 31 January 2012; Vol. 539, c. 777.]

That was his commitment on 31 January 2012. As I said, three months and 21 days later we still do not have the draft regulations. The Government, belatedly and to cover their embarrassment, pushed out a series of positioning papers on 17 May—four days before this debate—rightly provoking anger and criticism in local government that it had not been given time to consider the detail far enough in advance of today’s Report stage to issue briefings. We had the worst possible example of the Government rushing the Committee stage, preventing proper scrutiny. I remember well the lack of detailed scrutiny, with a number of amendments simply not being called because of the lack of time. The Government then did nothing for three months and 21 days, and now they have come to this House without draft regulations. They should be deeply ashamed of themselves and should apologise to the House for the shambles they have made of introducing this legislation.