Clause 11
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
5:30 pm
Alistair Burt (Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government), Communities and Local Government; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
You know, Mr. Benton, that could have been me talking. The hon. Gentleman took the words right out of my mouth. Had the witness procedure only been that little bit more extended, we could have thought ahead to these clauses and seen who might have been able to accompany Sir Michael Lyons to give us advice on them.
The boundary of a police area in England is mentioned specifically. What is the Minister’s consideration on that? There is a series of quite substantial powers, including powers over parish boundaries, the names of local government areas and the names of local authorities. He will be aware of the difficulties and debates that have raged throughout this country following any suggestion that traditional names should be changed or that local authorities should be named differently. Where is the indication that there will be public consultation and a degree of public consent to any changes made as a result of the powers in the clause?
I think that the Minister has got the drift of our concerns about this wide-ranging clause. If he could enlighten us to some degree, we might be able to come to a reasonable arrangement.