Clause 76
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
6:15 pm
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall, Liberal Democrat)
Will the Minister explain subsection (6), which states:
“If the Secretary of State thinks it necessary or expedient to do so the Secretary of State may at any time revoke all or any part of a regional strategy”?
“Expedient” is an interesting word, and although it might be customary in such cases, it seems a little wide-ranging. To revoke all or any of a regional strategy is the nuclear option. We have a whole Bill about consultation and involving people, but this tiny little subsection effectively says that if the Secretary of State does not like it, we can rewrite the whole thing at a moment’s notice. That is a problem.