Clause 2
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
12:00 pm
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
For 10 years I have believed that one of the major failings of the Conservative party is precisely that it ascribes its motives to us. I accept the flattering remarks about my own assurances made by the hon. Member for North-East Bedfordshire, but there is a record, over decades, of central imposition of local government restructuring. For all the fine words and criticism about letting go, the statement of the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) to the LGA that there would be no ring-fenced budgets for local government is breathtaking in either its naivety or its disingenuousness. However, I can see you getting nervous, Mr. Benton—although not as nervous as any potential future local government would be under a Government with such a policy.
The Government’s approach is devolutionary. It is for local authorities to tell us the best solution for their area. The reason for that, apart from what is apparent, is that the geographies and economies of local areas are very different. It is precisely because the Government want to give, through the Bill, greater powers to influence areas’ economy and cultural and social well-being, that we must take a devolutionary approach; it is a consequence of the policy.
The local authorities are the ones that understand their areas best. It should therefore be for them to present more coherent proposals before the Government involve the boundary committee. I am sure, or at least I hope, that the Committee will agree that allowing local authorities to be in control of their future is more desirable than leaving it to the boundary committee to make a recommendation for an area. For those reasons I believe that a narrow direction-making power is the most sensible solution. The Committee will also be aware that the boundary committee’s advice cannot be sought until after the Bill receives Royal Assent, should that be the will of the House.
I hope that, with those assurances and explanations, the hon. Gentleman will feel able to withdraw the amendment, and move on to further discussion.