Clause 4
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
12:45 pm
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks and their brevity, because it is a simple and important point. Let me outline what the clause is intended to achieve and then answer the specific question on referendums. The clause sets out the procedure for the Secretary of State to follow on receipt of a proposal for a single tier. If a proposal has been submitted jointly by all the authorities covered by the proposal, the Secretary of State may choose whether to consult any other person she believes to have an interest in the proposal. Otherwise, the Secretary of State must consult every authority whose area is covered by the proposal, other than the authority or authorities that submitted the proposal; and any other person she believes to have an interest. This consultation is to allow other interested local authorities and interested parties to have a formal opportunity to comment on proposals. However, one of the criteria on which proposals in this round of restructuring will be judged is
“a broad cross section of support”.
Proposals will therefore have to demonstrate support from a range of key partners, stakeholders and service users, namely the citizens.
Subsection (5) provides that the Secretary of State may request advice from the boundary committee on any matter relating to the proposal. This is to allowher to gain independent advice on any matter inthe proposal or a matter that is perhaps missing from the proposal. For example, she may ask for advice on the suggested boundaries set out in the proposal. She may set a date for the receipt of advice from the boundary committee and she may change that date later on. This may be necessary, for example, if it becomes apparent that the boundary committee needs more time to advise fully on the point raised or needs time to consult on an alternative proposal before submitting it to the Secretary of State under clause 6(4).
We are trying to create a framework that allows a bottom-up proposal and it is for the council to provide evidence of public support for the proposals rather than for the Government and the House, were it to accept the Government’s proposals, to dictate to local areas how that should be achieved. That is consistent with the approach taken. Where there are local referendums—we heard on Second Reading an excited dispatch from Shrewsbury in Shropshire—they are one of the factors to which we will have to have regard. The weight we give to any result will depend on other issues.