Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill - Clause 19 - Advice of the Electoral Commission
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
The hon. Gentleman is right to point to the imbalance in the different types of Member between the parties, which makes it difficult to draw the comparison that he seeks. The example from CDU Members in the Bundestag was a comparison between colleagues, which recognised that some had different work patterns that could cause tension. I do not want to make too much of a point of it, but I would be interested in how the Minister thinks that it will work. Members of the Committee might like to consider what has happened
in local authorities that have opted for cabinet forms of government, where there are now two classes of members. Members of the lower class distinctly feel that, and some of them are not terribly happy about it. I am sure that many Committee members have had representations from councillors in their constituencies who have strong views on what has happened in that respect. I look forward to hearing the Minister's views.