Clause 1 - Piloting conduct at European and local elections

Part of European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:18 am on 28 October 2003.

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Photo of Mark Lazarowicz Mark Lazarowicz Labour/Co-operative, Edinburgh North and Leith 10:18, 28 October 2003

I would also like to express my pleasure at serving under your chairmanship, Mr. Benton.

Would the hon. Gentleman accept that there is a contradiction in what he says? He claims that he is against compulsion, yet amendment No. 16 provides that if two thirds of local authorities in an area agree, there will be compulsion on the other local authorities. That would mean, for example, that the authorities in cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow and other large authorities in Scotland could be outvoted by the tiny authority represented by the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Duncan). Is that the compulsion that the amendment advocates?