Clause 86
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
4:45 pm
Roberta Blackman-Woods (PPS (Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong, Minister of State (Cabinet)), Cabinet Office; City of Durham, Labour)
I beg to move amendment No. 116, in clause 86, page 57, line 10, at end insert—
‘(iii) Members of Parliament for the area.’.
The key point of the amendment is to explore whether it would be possible to put in the Bill an opportunity for Members of Parliament to be involved in the revision of local area agreements or refer matters to overview and scrutiny committees.
We must not fall into the trap of believing that local authorities uniformly welcome attention from MPs on their operation, effectiveness and service delivery. I should say in passing that I have an excellent relationship with the four-star, and improving well, Durham county council, but I recognise that that is not always the case. In any case, we should not rely on individual good will to secure a role for Members of Parliament.
I should be grateful if the Minister would consider whether a formal mechanism is needed to ensure that Members can not only get involved in the revision of local area agreements but refer matters affecting their constituents to the overview and scrutiny panels.