Clause 14 - Directions as to reinforcement schemes
Fire and Rescue Services Bill
9:25 am
Mr John Pugh (Education Spokesperson, Education & Skills; Southport, Liberal Democrat)
I am sympathetic to what the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) has said—any attempt to prevent local authorities being bullied by the Secretary of State is to be commended—but I am a little unclear as to what his amendments would achieve. As I understand it, one effect would be almost to incorporate Standing Committees into the Executive as courts of appeal, rather than having them look at the general principles of legislation or a particular order made by the Government. It slightly worries me that they could function on a regular basis as some kind of additional arm of the Executive, and it would help if the hon. Gentleman clarified that. It is not clear to me whether, if the proposals were incorporated in the Bill, we, as a statutory instrument Committee looking at orders made under this legislation, would be doing quite the same kind of work as we normally do.