Clause 70 - Agreement between a Minister and designated body
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill
10:45 am
Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire, Liberal Democrat)
I, too, believe that the Minister needs to reflect on the word ''unconditionally'' as applied to a designated or non-designated body. I know that it has become more common for Government bodies and local authority bodies to pass across some of the functions that they have a duty to carry out or wish to carry out to other bodies, and I do not disagree with that process. However, it occasionally leads to difficulties whereby that other body finds itself in financial difficulties, perhaps having contracted with the private sector for the supply of goods and services. The question then comes of who is responsible to the private sector to make good the money owed by virtue of the provision of services and goods. Is it the designated body, the non-designated body or DEFRA? Perhaps the Minister will reflect on that when answering the points raised by the amendments tabled by the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice).