Local Government Finance Bill

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Wednesday 18th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab)]

I beg to move amendment 20, page 2, line 13, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.

[The Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: amendment 21, in clause 2, page 2, line 19, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.

Amendment 22, in clause 3, page 3, line 21, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.

Amendment 23, in clause 4, page 3, line 35, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.

Amendment 24, in clause 5, page 4, line 5, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.

Amendment 25, in clause 6, page 4, line 22, leave out ‘2013’ and insert ‘2014’.

[Helen Jones]

We have tabled these amendments because we are concerned about the way the Bill is being rushed through the House and, should it be enacted, the short time allowed for its implementation. Understandably, the Bill deals with difficult questions. It is not easy when dealing with local government finance to resolve exactly where the line should be drawn between central and local government, how far services should be uniform and how far we are prepared to tolerate variations in them. I accept that the Government carried out a consultation before bringing in the Bill, but the problem is that the Bill seems to reflect little of that consultation.

In addition, the Bill is being taken through the House at a break-neck pace. It was published on 19 December, just before the Christmas recess, and had its Second Reading on 10 January, which was the first day the House returned and only two sitting days later. Instead of sending the Bill upstairs to Committee, where we could have taken evidence, which we cannot do on the Floor of the House—that is the important thing about Public Bill Committees—the Government insisted that the Bill should be considered in Committee of the whole House in three days, and I think that it was originally meant to be two days.

Why are the Government so worried about taking evidence upstairs in Committee? They might be a little worried about what they could hear, because the truth is that local councils, having started to look at the Bill in detail, are particularly concerned about the speed of implementation for its provisions and are struck by the number of powers being given to the Secretary of State.

--- Later in debate ---

[Graham Stringer]

On a point of order, Mr Hoyle. I was interested in what my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) said. Will you advise the Committee on how it could hear from witnesses in its sittings on the Floor of the House?

[The Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

There is no procedure to do that in Committee of the whole House. Mr Bryant was taking the hon. Lady away from the subject that is before us.

[Helen Jones]

If I may return to the subject of the amendment—