HC Deb 26 July 1999 vol 336 cc83-4

Lords amendment: No. 11, in page 22, line 51, leave out ("section 70") and insert ("sections 70 and 71")

Ms Armstrong

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to consider Lords amendments Nos. 12 to 20.

Ms Armstrong

The Greater London Authority Bill is currently being discussed in the other place. In its Committee stage in the House and in the other place, there were amendments to the provisions for substitute calculations. Most of the amendments to schedule 1 to the Local Government Bill reflect those changes to the Greater London Authority Bill. The amendments also make a few changes to ensure that references to the GLA Bill in the Local Government Bill are accurate and take account of the special arrangements for the budget requirement and tax-setting calculations set out in the GLA Bill. That has necessitated one small consequential amendment.

I apologise for the number of amendments, but I assure hon. Members that they are not substantive. They simply ensure that this Bill and the GLA Bill are consistent in their provisions for the GLA.

Mr. Woodward

I have a small number of questions to the Minister about the amendments. We recognise that, in another place, the noble Lord said that these were all technical amendments—we know what "technical" usually means to the Government—and that they related mainly to the Greater London Authority Bill. He also said that they were not substantive.

Can the Minister confirm to the House that the amendments relate only to the Greater London Authority Bill? If they do not, will she tell the House to which other areas they refer?

Ms Armstrong

With the leave of the House. I said that the amendments related to the changes in the Greater London Authority Bill. Some of them affect the Metropolitan police, but relate to the GLA Bill.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 12 to 20 agreed to.