Clause 2
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
11:45 am
David Curry (Skipton and Ripon, Conservative)
I want to ask for clarity on one or two points. Subsection (1) talks about a duty “to promote understanding”. I should like to know how local authorities can do that. Is it the same as raising awareness, which is one of the favourite things that lobby groups talk about? I have spent most of my political career trying to dampen down awareness, which is by far the most sensible thing to do in our profession.
Then we come to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c). Should the little word “and” appear after each paragraph so that it reads, “the functions of authorities” and “the democratic arrangements” and
“how members of the public can take part.”?
Or are they choices, because when we come to the explanation of the authorities concerned, some have absolutely no democratic credentials. My primary care trust is not elected in any shape or form. Nobody is elected to a primary care trust, so how can we promote the democratic credentials of a body that has none?