Clause 41 - Forward work programmes
Water Bill [Lords]
7:15 pm
Mr Elliot Morley (Minister of State (Environment and Agri-Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Scunthorpe, Labour)
I am sorry, but I will have to disappoint the hon. Gentleman.
Amendments Nos. 73 and 75 would transfer the responsibility for laying the report from the Secretary of State to the authority, which would take the Secretary of State completely out of the reporting line. That would weaken the line of accountability to Parliament. I know that that is not what the hon. Gentleman wants to do, but that would be the effect of the amendments.