Jacqui Lait (Beckenham, Conservative)

I beg to move amendment No. 56, in page 4, line 44, leave out 'may arrange' and insert 'must contract'.

I bring this issue up because it would be useful to get the Minister's view on it. Like so many of the amendments, amendment No. 56 raises a question to which we wish to have a response.

The Bill states that the ODA

''may arrange with an authority responsible for cleaning or lighting a highway''.

We should like to explore the implications for private-sector contracts, because so much of the lighting and cleaning of highways is already contracted out and many local authorities have contracts with private organisations. I have come across one that is beginning what is potentially a 30-year contract.

If there had to be variations in the contracts, those would have to be negotiated between the local authority and the contractor—at a greater cost to the local authorities and hence, one assumes, to council tax payers. It would be useful to know who would bear that cost. Would the council tax payers bear it, or the ODA? If the Minister cannot give an immediate response, I shall be happy to withdraw the amendment and return to the issue on Report, or for him to write to Committee members about it.  

Richard Caborn (Sheffield Central, Labour)

Clause 6 allows the ODA to make sure that the streets around the Olympic venue are kept clean and well-lit. Such matters are the responsibility of the local authority; subsection (1) therefore allows the ODA to draw up a service level agreement with the relevant authorities. I assure the hon. Lady that we expect the ODA to take that approach whenever there is a significant issue about street cleaning or lighting. The rest of clause 6 is intended to be only a backstop, to allow the ODA to step in and carry out some work when an authority fails to do what has been formally agreed.

Amendment No. 56 would impose a further burden on the ODA by requiring it to enter a contract with all relevant local authorities. That requirement would apply even when the ODA considered that unnecessary or when it was satisfied that the local authority would provide a satisfactory service without any need for a side agreement or a step-in clause. The responsibility would be that of the ODA.

Jacqui Lait (Beckenham, Conservative)

I just wish to finish the Minister's sentence. Will it be the responsibility of the ODA to pay?

Richard Caborn (Sheffield Central, Labour)

Yes.

Jacqui Lait (Beckenham, Conservative)

That is reassuring. We shall consider the provision. If we have further queries, I am sure that the Minister will be only too willing to help us. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.