My Lords, in moving Amendment 195ZAZN, a relatively short number compared with some we have just had, I shall speak to 17 others in this group, some of which are even shorter. The purpose of these amendments is to make the Bill itself even shorter, which I think would benefit...

My Lords, in moving Amendment 195ZAZN, a relatively short number compared with some we have just had, I shall speak to 17 others in this group, some of which are even shorter. The purpose of these amendments is to make the Bill itself even shorter, which I think would benefit...

195ZAZN: Clause 42, leave out Clause 42

195ZAZN: Clause 42, leave out Clause 42

My Lords, my amendments take out the whole of Chapter 1 of Part 4. I would be quite happy to take out the whole of Part 4 but I do not think I would get quite so much enthusiasm from the government Front Bench. Like my noble friend Lord Lucas,...

My Lords, my amendments take out the whole of Chapter 1 of Part 4. I would be quite happy to take out the whole of Part 4 but I do not think I would get quite so much enthusiasm from the government Front Bench. Like my noble friend Lord Lucas,...

195ZAZP: Clause 43, leave out Clause 43 Amendment 195ZAZP agreed. Clause 44 : The required percentage Clause 44 : The required percentage Amendment 195ZB not moved. Amendment 195ZC Moved by

195ZAZP: Clause 43, leave out Clause 43 Amendment 195ZAZP agreed. Clause 44 : The required percentage Clause 44 : The required percentage Amendment 195ZB not moved. Amendment 195ZC Moved by

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

My Lords, I think we have thrashed this to death now. I do not think there is anything else to come. I will therefore not move it. Amendment 197FB not moved. Amendment 197FBA not moved. Clause 72 : Consideration of expression of interest: further provisions Amendment 197FC Clause 72 :...

My Lords, I think we have thrashed this to death now. I do not think there is anything else to come. I will therefore not move it. Amendment 197FB not moved. Amendment 197FBA not moved. Clause 72 : Consideration of expression of interest: further provisions Amendment 197FC Clause 72 :...

My Lords, I thank the Government for listening to the debate on this matter in Committee and for coming forward with amendments which, by and large, are very sensible. I particularly appreciate their picking up the ancillary use point that I raised in an amendment, a great deal of which...

My Lords, I thank the Government for listening to the debate on this matter in Committee and for coming forward with amendments which, by and large, are very sensible. I particularly appreciate their picking up the ancillary use point that I raised in an amendment, a great deal of which...

197FB: Clause 71, page 62, line 4, at beginning insert ““Subject to subsections (5) and (6)””

197FB: Clause 71, page 62, line 4, at beginning insert ““Subject to subsections (5) and (6)””

My Lords, I am grateful for that. I realise that my noble friend has not had a chance to think about that question but I think that the issue of ““two or more employees”” is totally irrelevant in this case. We are talking about a challenge made by an outside...

My Lords, I am grateful for that. I realise that my noble friend has not had a chance to think about that question but I think that the issue of ““two or more employees”” is totally irrelevant in this case. We are talking about a challenge made by an outside...

Before my noble friend sits down and before I stand up, perhaps I may ask a question which has just occurred to me. If a service—for example, the refuse and recycling service—goes out to a contract and it is for well over £156,000, will an existing in-house provider be able...

Before my noble friend sits down and before I stand up, perhaps I may ask a question which has just occurred to me. If a service—for example, the refuse and recycling service—goes out to a contract and it is for well over £156,000, will an existing in-house provider be able...

197EZA: Clause 71, page 61, line 26, at end insert— ““(1A) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify an annual cost of a relevant service at or above which level a relevant authority may reject an expression of interest. (1B) An annual cost of a service that is specified...

197EZA: Clause 71, page 61, line 26, at end insert— ““(1A) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify an annual cost of a relevant service at or above which level a relevant authority may reject an expression of interest. (1B) An annual cost of a service that is specified...

My Lords, this is the other group of key amendments in this part of the Bill. I speak to four others in the group, and there are two more in the group from my noble friend Lady Hamwee. These amendments are all about the process of procurement once an expression...

My Lords, this is the other group of key amendments in this part of the Bill. I speak to four others in the group, and there are two more in the group from my noble friend Lady Hamwee. These amendments are all about the process of procurement once an expression...

My Lords, I am very grateful for the long and comprehensive explanation. I am sorry—I have a cough, but I shall try to keep going until I get a drink of water. Thank you for that; I am glad that some of my elders and betters have got important things...

My Lords, I am very grateful for the long and comprehensive explanation. I am sorry—I have a cough, but I shall try to keep going until I get a drink of water. Thank you for that; I am glad that some of my elders and betters have got important things...

My Lords, this little group of amendments raises some important and fundamental issues relating to the community right to challenge. I shall speak also to Amendment 197DA. I think that there is also a Labour amendment in the group. We are back in the Alice in Wonderland world of relevant...

My Lords, this little group of amendments raises some important and fundamental issues relating to the community right to challenge. I shall speak also to Amendment 197DA. I think that there is also a Labour amendment in the group. We are back in the Alice in Wonderland world of relevant...

Before the Minister sits down, and without wishing to pre-empt the noble Lord, Lord Beecham, is that an indication that there might be some tidying up to be done at Third Reading, and that that issue therefore could be considered then?

Before the Minister sits down, and without wishing to pre-empt the noble Lord, Lord Beecham, is that an indication that there might be some tidying up to be done at Third Reading, and that that issue therefore could be considered then?

197CA: Clause 69, page 60, line 33, leave out paragraph (d)

197CA: Clause 69, page 60, line 33, leave out paragraph (d)

I take it that that was not the Minister’s reply to the debate. I have three brief points to make. We are moving on to the community right to challenge, and some of us have found it quite difficult to understand how it will work and how some of the...

I take it that that was not the Minister’s reply to the debate. I have three brief points to make. We are moving on to the community right to challenge, and some of us have found it quite difficult to understand how it will work and how some of the...

195ZC: Clause 44, leave out Clause 44 Amendment 195ZC agreed. Clause 45 : Request for referendum Clause 45 : Request for referendum Amendment 195ZCA not moved. Amendment 195ZD Moved by

195ZC: Clause 44, leave out Clause 44 Amendment 195ZC agreed. Clause 45 : Request for referendum Clause 45 : Request for referendum Amendment 195ZCA not moved. Amendment 195ZD Moved by

195BD: Clause 51, leave out Clause 51 Amendment 195BD agreed. Amendment 195BDA not moved. Clause 52 : Question to be asked in local referendum Amendment 195BE Clause 52 : Question to be asked in local referendum Amendment 195BE Moved by

195BD: Clause 51, leave out Clause 51 Amendment 195BD agreed. Amendment 195BDA not moved. Clause 52 : Question to be asked in local referendum Amendment 195BE Clause 52 : Question to be asked in local referendum Amendment 195BE Moved by

195BE: Clause 52, leave out Clause 52 Amendment 195BE agreed. Clause 53 : Date of referendum Amendment 195BF Clause 53 : Date of referendum Amendment 195BF Moved by

195BE: Clause 52, leave out Clause 52 Amendment 195BE agreed. Clause 53 : Date of referendum Amendment 195BF Clause 53 : Date of referendum Amendment 195BF Moved by