HC Deb 13 June 1989 vol 154 cc791-2
Mr. Gummer

I beg to move amendment No. 167, in page 8, leave out line 39 and insert— `(c) be a person who qualifies by virtue of section 113(2)(b) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (existing office holders) as a person who may be given responsibility for the financial affairs of an authority mentioned in section 111(2)(a) to (k) of that Act; or (d) fulfil two or more of those conditions.'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to debate Government amendment No. 168.

Mr. Gummer

These minor amendments ensure that local authority chief finance officers without formal qualifications are not barred from becoming chief finance officers of the City of London or from a section 73 successor body.

Mr. Tony Banks

The Minister will correct me if I misunderstood him, but he appeared to be saying that the City of London can take people on who clearly do not have the qualifications for the job. Is that what he was saying? The Minister implied that the City of London could take on unqualified people who would have been required to have certain qualifications were they employed elsewhere.

Mr. Gummer

It is simply that certain chief finance officers are permitted under section 113 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to hold the post of local authority chief finance officer because at the time that section 113 came into force they were already holding such a post. The amendment ensures that such chief finance officers are not barred in the future from holding the post of chief finance officer of the Common Council of the City of London or any new successor body under section 73 of the Local Government Act 1985. The amendment ensures that certain rights accorded under a previous Act will not be excluded.

Mr. Banks

rose—

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman cannot address the House again.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 168, in page 9 leave out line 4 and insert— `(c) be a person who qualifies by virtue of section 113(2)(b) of the local Government Finance Act 1988 (existing office holders) as a person who may be given responsibility for the financial affairs of an authority mentioned in section 111(2)(a) to (k) of that Act; or (d) fulfil two or more of those conditions.'.—[Mr. Gummer].

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