Unfortunately when irony appears in Hansard it appears to be totally serious. I realise I am being bold tangling with the expertise that has been brought to bear both by the two noble Lords who have spoken and have their names to the amendment and the authorities they have cited....

Unfortunately when irony appears in Hansard it appears to be totally serious. I realise I am being bold tangling with the expertise that has been brought to bear both by the two noble Lords who have spoken and have their names to the amendment and the authorities they have cited....

My Lords, the noble Lord, in my eyes at any rate, puts himself further on the debit side by describing his previous career as being on the debit side. Many of us regard our time in local government as a very great plus.

My Lords, the noble Lord, in my eyes at any rate, puts himself further on the debit side by describing his previous career as being on the debit side. Many of us regard our time in local government as a very great plus.

My Lords, I was not intending to describe it as a get-out but to say that ““just because”” could also be read as ““only because””. Although those are not words that one would normally find in legislation, they are very helpful and descriptive in this context.

My Lords, I was not intending to describe it as a get-out but to say that ““just because”” could also be read as ““only because””. Although those are not words that one would normally find in legislation, they are very helpful and descriptive in this context.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 7 May (WA 134), on what grounds they have decided not to take forward "a number of more minor proposals, namely on remote attendance and voting by councillors, payments for councillors on loss of office, and...

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 7 May (WA 134), on what grounds they have decided not to take forward "a number of more minor proposals, namely on remote attendance and voting by councillors, payments for councillors on loss of office, and...

My Lords, our procedural rules do not allow me to test colleagues on whether they have followed the fine detail of the noble Lord’s response, for which I thank him. As regards Amendment 169A, I hope that the Government will consult the industry on the new version given that there...

My Lords, our procedural rules do not allow me to test colleagues on whether they have followed the fine detail of the noble Lord’s response, for which I thank him. As regards Amendment 169A, I hope that the Government will consult the industry on the new version given that there...

My Lords, I omitted to thank the Minister for the time and effort that she put into discussions at all stages of the Bill, including between Committee and Report. I know she did not mention that in order to prompt me, but I am grateful for the prompt. She told...

My Lords, I omitted to thank the Minister for the time and effort that she put into discussions at all stages of the Bill, including between Committee and Report. I know she did not mention that in order to prompt me, but I am grateful for the prompt. She told...

My Lords, I shall also speak to Amendments 169A to 169D. These amendments take us to the part of the Bill that deals with construction contracts. I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Tope for dealing with the matter in Committee; I was unable to be there and am...

My Lords, I shall also speak to Amendments 169A to 169D. These amendments take us to the part of the Bill that deals with construction contracts. I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Tope for dealing with the matter in Committee; I was unable to be there and am...

My Lords, I am grateful to the two speakers; it is helpful to have their views and responses on the record. I cannot remember whether the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, said that it would be "irresponsible"—but that is what she meant—to make the operation of the Bill unworkable but I...

My Lords, I am grateful to the two speakers; it is helpful to have their views and responses on the record. I cannot remember whether the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, said that it would be "irresponsible"—but that is what she meant—to make the operation of the Bill unworkable but I...

Clause 144: Commencement: general Amendment 170A 170A: Clause 144, page 86, line 36, after "2" insert "other than section 16"

Clause 144: Commencement: general Amendment 170A 170A: Clause 144, page 86, line 36, after "2" insert "other than section 16"

My Lords, I shall also speak to Amendment 170B. These amendments are to the commencement clause of the Bill but they deal with Clause 16 and apply preconditions before what will then be Section 16 can be brought into effect. Clause 16 is in the part of the Bill dealing...

My Lords, I shall also speak to Amendment 170B. These amendments are to the commencement clause of the Bill but they deal with Clause 16 and apply preconditions before what will then be Section 16 can be brought into effect. Clause 16 is in the part of the Bill dealing...

My Lords, for the reasons I have explained, I beg to move Amendment 168C. Division on Amendment 168C Contents 43; Not-Contents 89. Amendment 168C disagreed. Clause 86 : Constitution Amendments 168D and 168E not moved. Clause 87 : Constitution: membership and voting Amendment 168F not moved. Clause 88 : Exercise...

My Lords, for the reasons I have explained, I beg to move Amendment 168C. Division on Amendment 168C Contents 43; Not-Contents 89. Amendment 168C disagreed. Clause 86 : Constitution Amendments 168D and 168E not moved. Clause 87 : Constitution: membership and voting Amendment 168F not moved. Clause 88 : Exercise...

Amendment 168C 168C: Clause 85, leave out Clause 85

Amendment 168C 168C: Clause 85, leave out Clause 85

My Lords, the amendment starts a long group to which I shall speak, but the point is relatively short. I have two amendments in this group. They may seem inconsistent, but they reflect that we have in principle objections to the visions regarding economic prosperity boards. If they are to...

My Lords, the amendment starts a long group to which I shall speak, but the point is relatively short. I have two amendments in this group. They may seem inconsistent, but they reflect that we have in principle objections to the visions regarding economic prosperity boards. If they are to...

Clause 85: EPBs and their areas Amendment 168A 168A: Clause 85, page 58, line 5, after "order" insert "at the request of all the principal local authorities for the local government area concerned"

Clause 85: EPBs and their areas Amendment 168A 168A: Clause 85, page 58, line 5, after "order" insert "at the request of all the principal local authorities for the local government area concerned"

Clause 136: Adjudicator's power to make corrections Amendment 169ZA 169ZA: Clause 136, page 81, line 29, leave out "remove" and insert "correct"

Clause 136: Adjudicator's power to make corrections Amendment 169ZA 169ZA: Clause 136, page 81, line 29, leave out "remove" and insert "correct"

My Lords, perhaps I may say a word about Amendment 169E. The noble Lord referred to the right to suspend the credit period. That is a very different remedy, if that is the right term in this context, from the arrangement in the proposed new section. I readily acknowledge that...

My Lords, perhaps I may say a word about Amendment 169E. The noble Lord referred to the right to suspend the credit period. That is a very different remedy, if that is the right term in this context, from the arrangement in the proposed new section. I readily acknowledge that...

My Lords, can the noble Lord answer my question about timing?

My Lords, can the noble Lord answer my question about timing?

I thank the Minister for her long and detailed introduction, as the noble Lord has just said, in her usual careful fashion. I do not wish to rehearse the background or the arguments that we have had on the decisions that underlie the order; I suspect that the influx of...

I thank the Minister for her long and detailed introduction, as the noble Lord has just said, in her usual careful fashion. I do not wish to rehearse the background or the arguments that we have had on the decisions that underlie the order; I suspect that the influx of...

It is not a disgrace that I live in London; it is a great place. However, one has to remember that the proprieties and the way in which parish councillors work in and respond to their communities are very different. Their flexibility must not be reduced. The Minister referred to...

It is not a disgrace that I live in London; it is a great place. However, one has to remember that the proprieties and the way in which parish councillors work in and respond to their communities are very different. Their flexibility must not be reduced. The Minister referred to...

Before the noble Baroness replies, I would like to comment on one aspect of this. I would also like to say how glad I am to see her again and how glad I was on Friday night to hear her sounding as though she was well enough to enjoy herself...

Before the noble Baroness replies, I would like to comment on one aspect of this. I would also like to say how glad I am to see her again and how glad I was on Friday night to hear her sounding as though she was well enough to enjoy herself...