Part of Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:30 am on 18 December 2002.
Philip Hammond
Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government)
11:30,
18 December 2002
I understand that, and I understand the logic in the context of London, where the devolution of power was to a large number of successor authorities. This reorganisation will involve relatively modest changes to authority boundaries—we are talking about district authorities being amalgamated into unitary authorities, or county authorities perhaps being broken down into unitary authorities. I had hoped that the Minister would address this matter, because it is not immediately obvious to me that the proposed reorganisation would involve the kind of issues that arose in London. I fully understand why the London residuary body was created.
I do not have chapter and verse on this matter so, in order not to delay the Committee, I beg to ask leave to
withdraw the Amendment. I shall study the matter again in quieter moments.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 16 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
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