Schedule 2 - The Consumer Council for Water
Water Bill [Lords]
Public Bill Committees, 14 October 2003, 6:45 pm
Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)
I accept everything that the Minister has said, but there is one thing that I should like him to do as well. I recognise that in drafting the Bill the Government felt that it would be particularly important to give extra emphasis to disabled people, and I welcome that. However, the purpose of my amendment is to ensure that should an appropriate person not be available or not wish to serve, that would not in any way slow down or prohibit the
appointments taking place. It is not compulsory in the wording, but I want to ensure that we are not insisting on something that might not be possible.
I take the point that the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Thomas) made, but I do not necessarily feel that this wording is the most appropriate for what the Government seek to do. With that in mind, providing that I have the assurance that the measure will never be held against the appointments procedure, I will have no problem withdrawing the amendment.