Paul Goodman (Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government; Wycombe, Conservative)

The official Opposition, like other Opposition parties, were not convinced by the Minister’s explanation of clause 30. She said that the view had generally been expressed that it would be useful to have more resources and scrutiny and that representations had been made to the Department for Communities and Local Government, but it did not seem to us, on the basis of her comments, that local authorities and others were knocking at the Department’s door saying that scrutiny in local authorities was poor.

And that brings me directly to our amendments. Very often, amendments are probing amendments designed to test the Government’s intentions. However, these amendments would give the clause sufficient flexibility to make it just about bearable. Amendment 33 would remove the Secretary of State’s regulation-making power and give local authorities the flexibility to make this provision, if they so wish. Amendment 34 would replace “regulations”—again, made from the centre—with the more pliable word “arrangements”. That is also the case with the next amendment. Perhaps we have taken a rather severe view of any guidance issued by the Secretary of State in amendment 36. However, together, our amendments would make the minimum necessary changes to the clause to ensure that it does not place a burden on local authorities that, on the basis of the Minister’s evidence, they should not have to carry.

See this speech in context