Clause 47
Crossrail Bill
12:15 pm
Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative)
I have listened to the Minister’s explanation, although I certainly do not share his certainty about who will be Mayor of London at any given time—indeed, he and I are completely at variance on that point.
I recognise the fact that the Mayor is the co-sponsor, but local government needs to be a key stakeholder, and the Minister has said that it will be involved in the consultation process. I therefore fail to understand the Government’s reluctance to refer in the Bill to the fact that they will consult key stakeholders. Although I am happy to take the Minister’s reassurance on that, we do not know whether we will have a different Minister, a different Mayor and a different view at some stage, so it is odd that the Government will not include any reassurance in the Bill.
It is disappointing that the Minister will not accept a number of our points about consultation, but given that the amendment deals with the co-sponsors and the nominated undertaker, I am prepared to ask the Committee’s leave to withdraw it. However, I will table several other amendments about consultation to test the will of the Committee. However, with your permission, Lady Winterton, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.