Clause 20
Local Transport Bill [ Lords ]
4:30 pm
Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative)
Amendment No. 55 would ensure that the consultation document is a real document that can be responded to. The Bill says that authorities must state their reasons. I contend that the wording of that measure is open to manipulation and misinterpretation. The current criteria and the word “reasons” are subjective and difficult to quantify.
It is fair that people asked to respond to the consultation document should have the chance to assess all the relevant information put in front of them. Rather than having local authorities state subjective positions, consultation procedures should be open, fair and evidence-based. I therefore propose that the word “reasons” be replaced by the word “evidence”. The effect would be that the consultation document issued by the local authority would give a clear basis for how the decision was reached rather than simply stating what that decision was. Consultation can be effective only if it is based on facts and if people read those facts to make their decision. My amendment would therefore require local authorities—