English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Debate between Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill and Lord Bassam of Brighton

Committee stage
Monday 2nd February 2026 Grand Committee

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

As I say, I am very happy to meet the noble Lord and my noble friend Lord Blunkett to see whether we can move this forward.

[Lord Bassam of Brighton (Lab)]

Has the Minister finished?

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

No.

[Lord Bassam of Brighton (Lab)]

Okay—I will sum up when he has.

[Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)]

I am sorry for sitting down prematurely.

Amendment 238, spoken to by the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, would have no effect because there already exists a long-established and well-established civil enforcement regime in regulations made under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. That regime covers matters such as conditions for issuance and levels of penalty charge notices, rights of representation to the issuing local authority, and onward appeal to an independent adjudicator if representations are unsuccessful. The Secretary of State has also published statutory guidance, to which local authorities must have regard under Section 87 of the 2004 Act, to ensure that civil enforcement action is carried out by approved local authorities in a fair and proportionate manner.

With these assurances, I hope that noble Lords are able not to press their amendments.