Clause 43 - Guidance to authority on
Water Bill [Lords]
10:00 am
Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster, Conservative)
I am grateful for that answer, which was pretty much what I expected from the Minister. There is always a danger when we include a provision referring to
''such other persons as the Secretary of State''
considers appropriate. We are going around in a circle, to some extent. It is the Secretary of State who decides everything in that respect. Therefore, by including the public in the clause, we would have circumvented his or her ability to avoid consulting people who might have turned up and been difficult. However, it will be like pushing water up a hill to get the Government to concede on that point. As I have other important
amendments that I wish to get to, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 43 ordered to stand part of the Bill.