Clause 31 - Power to pay grant
Local Government Bill
5:15 pm
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat)
The Minister says that they cannot. If he were to rephrase the clause so that they could, perhaps the Committee would be happier with it. It is possible to do that, and I am surprised that the Minister, who is a very intelligent man, and his officials cannot come up with a way of doing that.
I make a final point. The Minister says that he is sympathetic with my proposals for reforming the estimates systems. He has not yet read them, but I am glad that he has such confidence in them and gives me such fulsome support. It is vital that we carry out reform and, until we do, I will not understand why this place should give even more powers to the Executive. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 31 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Further consideration adjourned.—[Mr. Woolas.]
Adjourned accordingly at half-past Five o'clock till Tuesday 4 February at five minutes to Nine o'clock.