Clause 80
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
6:30 pm
Stewart Jackson (Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government; Peterborough, Conservative)
My hon. Friend leads me to finish my peroration via a crescendo of consensus. I hope that the Liberal Democrats—our doughty fighters for Cornwall—are minded to support us.
There is consensus on this matter. The Business and Enterprise Committee has said, specifically with regard to RDAs and the Bill, that there is a need for
“the role of local authorities—and of the communities they represent—to be strengthened”.
If the Minister is truly committed to the devolution of power from RDAs to local authorities, which has a degree of consensus in the Committee—the opinion is prevalent among Government and Opposition members of the Committee—I hope that she will see fit to accept the amendment and the new clause.