Written evidence to be reported to the House
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
2:16 pm
Q141Alistair Burt (North-East Bedfordshire) (Con): We have had a most interesting opening to our proceedings on the Bill through the witness procedure. I want to begin this afternoon with a general question directed at the Minister for Local Government about what we have heard. The Bill has been set in the context of the nature of government in this country and the concerns that are expressed outside about the powers that people have locally to make decisions and to make things happen, and a recognition of the frustration that is sometimes out there. We have seen the Government’s determination to do something about it being challenged by some of the witnesses, who would have liked them to go further. I would therefore like to ask the Minister, in the context of listening to the evidence sessions and taking part in them, have you changed your opinion on anything that you have heard about? Have queries been raised in your mind about the balance of devolution that you have reached? Does the witness procedure mean that you will be thinking about the Bill in a way that you would not have been without that procedure?