Clause 37
Crossrail Bill
11:30 am
Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative)
Again, I listened carefully to the Minister, and again, I could not understand a lot of what he said. Even after consultation, it may be necessary to close certain things, even if the people who are consulted disagree with that. That is in the nature of consultation. I do not see how the amendment, other than in the very clearest way, is a major imposition on the Secretary of State. It does not say that they must consult with any or every person as would wish to be consulted with. It refers to
“and such other persons as he considers appropriate.”
The Minister has said that it is inconceivable that the Secretary of State would not consult such people. Why, therefore, does he not wish to see that in the Bill? I find this extraordinary. We have accepted all the way through that this is an exceptional project requiring exceptional powers and exceptional discretion, but when we can put in the Bill a definition of those powers, it would seem appropriate to do so. I am not sure that the he has reassured me on why he wants the amendment to fall.