Clause 75
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
6:00 pm
Nick Raynsford (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
We passed rather rapidly over the clause 74, which required the responsible regional authorities to take account of regional strategies in adjoining areas. In the event of the regional body approving a strategy that is completely in conflict with that of another region and that other region objecting strongly, the revisions that the hon. Gentleman is proposing leave no mechanism for resolution. Does he not recognise that there will be circumstances in which some sort of higher authority has to take a look at situations in which there is a conflict between the regional strategies prepared by different regions? Frankly, it is not satisfactory to remove the role of the Secretary of State without providing an alternative mechanism for resolving such disputes.