Clause 85
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [Lords]
6:45 pm
Paul Goodman (Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government; Wycombe, Conservative)
It is, indeed, unfortunate that they are not members of the Committee, but that is a mystery on which only the Whips can cast light.
In our debates on the previous part of the Bill, I said that if the Government had accepted the new clause, we would have had no problem with clause 85 on its own, which simply sets out the basic framework. The problem—I am afraid that the right hon. Gentleman is going to have to sit through this clause by clause—is the highly centralising power that nearly all the other clauses give to the Secretary of State. They seem to us so wretched as to be incapable of amendment.
However, I want to end on a point that will bring a little light and joy into the life of the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich. If the Minister can speak satisfactorily to this clause, which sets up the bare bones of economic prosperity boards, we will consider not dividing the Committee on it, which will be a rare occurrence in today’s proceedings.