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Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill

My Lords, I find myself in a difficult position: I am not usually one to want to give more power to Ministers of State or bodies like the PSFA. However, I am very sensitive to contemporary events in which local authorities have not necessarily always been open about things happening on their watch. I am thinking of things like the grooming-gangs scandal: things happen, and they are covered up. I therefore want to be in a position where the correct authorities can intervene if they suspect something wrong is happening. In that sense, I do with some trepidation support Amendment 2.

However, I also want to emphasise the importance of the second amendment in this group, Amendment 19, because one of the things that is absolutely crucial to building trust—which I know the Minister has emphasised this Bill can do—is that we have transparency, that we are able to see wrongdoing and that it is open for the public to find out what is happening locally. Otherwise, a culture of secrecy could well continue. These amendments are sensible in engendering real trust in the process moving forward.

4.15 pm