Clause 32
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
2:15 pm
Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government; Portsmouth North, Labour)
I will certainly ask the Welsh Assembly Government to write to the hon. Gentleman. I personally have not met any of their members. I understand that a briefing on a framework power was held on Tuesday 9 June at 3 pm, and that it was publicised to hon. Members when most of us would have been preparing for our afternoon sitting. I can only apologise for that. The policy will be subject to consultation with the Welsh Assembly Government. We intend to give them the powers to decide their decision-making regime. As he will know, we have specifically excluded from the Bill anything in respect of direct elections to executives of county and county borough councils in Wales or the creation of a form of executive requiring direct elections. I can only say to the hon. Gentleman that I will write to him with the information that he requires.