Clause 75
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
6:00 pm
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
In the hope that we can move swiftly on, I will be brief. The amendments reflect our suspicion of the Secretary of State’s role in overriding what might have been agreed under arrangements already in place. We have said before that those arrangements are imperfect, but if we are to have a slightly more accountable system, we really prefer that it stand, rather than have the Secretary of State able to nitpick every revision made by regional bodies. It undermines the whole purpose of any form of regional government in which local government is involved if the Secretary of State can overrule it.