Clause 1 - Purpose
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
4:15 pm
Christopher Chope (Christchurch, Conservative)
That is another good point, and I am sure that the Minister will be able to issue a certificate to say that he has no intention to mix private interests with the public interest and thereby create a hybrid Bill. My hon. Friend raises an understandable concern.
When the House legislates on local issues, whether by a private Bill or through a private Act of Parliament, it often creates a controversial situation. I well remember that when I was the Member of Parliament for Southampton, Itchen, Southampton city council proposed to bring forward what was described as the Southampton Rapid Transit Bill, a highly controversial piece of legislation. It was eventually defeated in a free vote late one evening, much to my delight. That was a private piece of legislation concerned only with the people of Southampton, but it was highly controversial.
We see in the Bill that the Government wish to take powers to make significant changes to private or local legislation. We know that local legislation is often used as a pathfinder for Government legislation. We have seen a lot of examples of that recently, such as the Mayor of London and the London Assembly seeking powers for all sorts of draconian measures to be used against motorists in particular and others within the Greater London area. That legislation has gone through and then normally turned out to be the precursor to similar legislation with a more general application. Much of it, as I recollect from its consideration in the House, has been pretty bland and has gone through without much problem. However, there are always things slipped in when somebody has decided, “Let’s try it on. Let’s have a go to try and extend our powers in one respect or another.”
Although this point is in parentheses, and our main concerns are about the Government’s power under the Bill to change primary legislation—public general Acts, as they are called—we should not forget the impact that local legislation can have on individuals and businesses in our constituencies. The Minister should be put to proof in that regard.