I thank all right hon. and hon. Members for their contributions to this debate. When I spoke about the all-party consensus on the need for more decentralisation and localism, and more transparency and accountability, I could not have imagined that that would be so perfectly reflected in the various contributions that have been made. Things have moved on significantly in recent years, in terms...
The hon. Gentleman makes his point extremely well. I am sure that the Minister will have listened carefully to it. The hon. Member for Putney made a number of detailed points. She called for further clarification and raised questions about definition, all of which were important and many of which can be discussed further in Committee. My right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and...
I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. My Bill will strengthen the scrutiny powers already available to local authorities, and extend the range of public service providers that can be subject to the scrutiny process. It is designed to improve accountability in order to improve outcomes and thereby drive up the standards of local public services. I express my thanks to all...
My hon. Friend raises a very important point. In the Bill there is no such way, but through the ballot box there is. Another answer to his question is that increasing emphasis is being given to the power of the public to influence and pressurise local authorities, through the community call for action, the councils' call for action, and the new emphasis on petitions. All those were introduced...
My hon. Friend raises a really important point. From my point of view, the groups that he mentions will not be subject to the regulations that will be published. It is a matter for the Government which organisations and individuals they include, but in all the discussions about the Bill to which I have been party, there was no suggestion that Parliament should be designated in the regulations.
That is an important point, and that concern has been raised by a number of organisations. However, given that the measure is a radical step forward in giving local authorities powers to scrutinise a wide range of organisations, there probably does need to be more time to build up consensus about the range of organisations included. The hon. Gentleman will recall that the Local Government and...
Again, my hon. Friend makes an important point. As he knows, that would be the subject of future regulations, but railway contractors as well as the train operating companies, other public transport services and other public transport maintenance companies that are wholly or partly financed by public funds could potentially be listed in the regulations. My hon. Friend's intervention...
I beg to move, That the House sit in private. Question put forthwith (Standing Order. No. 163). Question negatived.
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many vehicles were exempt from vehicle excise duty as a result of having been first registered prior to January 1973 in each of the last five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people under the age of 19 years who are not in employment, education or training are living in supported housing schemes; what assessment she has made of the effects of housing benefit levels on the prospects of such people obtaining employment; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of young people under the age of 19 years are living in supported housing schemes; and what the maximum weekly housing benefit payable to such people is.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of gaming machines in public houses which are not subject to Amusement Machine Licence Duty (AMLD); what representations he has received in respect of the proposal to extend AMLD to include such machines; whether he has (a) sought and (b) received advice from the Gambling Commission on the practical arrangements...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received on the steps taken by the Democratic Republic of Congo towards validation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; and if he will make it his policy to support the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in its efforts to (a) achieve validation and (b) ensure effective implementation...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo on implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government plan to take to encourage mature students and part-time students to undertake courses; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for child benefit have been made in each of the last three years.
