New Clause 46
Greater London Authority Bill
12:45 pm
Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to provide further colour to the new clause. I was indeed referring to the finance and performance department within the strategic body of the GLA, and most definitely not to the finance departments and organisations within the functional bodies. There would be some significant expenditure involved, but the most important thing in that provision is that it ensures that there is some protection for the amount of money—serious money—given to that office.
In conclusion, the new clause offers the prospect of providing a strong discipline to the assembly, so that its resources are deployed on its fundamental role of scrutinising the budgetary process. The ability to vote down the Mayor’s budget on a two-thirds majority is the only real executive power that the assembly has. That is important. The proposals would ensure that resources are not unnecessarily applied in respect of the political interests of assembly members. Rather, they would be applied to hold the Mayor to account on financial and overall performance, in line with the model that has worked so successfully in New York city.