HC Deb 22 June 1999 vol 333 cc1060-1

59B.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may pay grants to the Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority in respect of the Authority's expenditure.

(2) Grants under this section shall be paid at such times, in such manner and subject to such conditions as the Lord Chancellor may with the concurrence of the Treasury determine.

(3) Each London local authority shall pay to the Authority such amount in respect of—

  1. (a) any kind of the Authority's expenditure in any year; or
  2. (b) if less, such amount as may, in relation to that kind of expenditure and that year, be for the time being determined by the Lord Chancellor,
as may be determined in accordance with regulations made by the Lord Chancellor by statutory instrument.

(4) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations made by statutory instrument make provision as to the making of payments under subsection (3) above, including provision—

  1. (a) as to whether payments are to be made by instalments or otherwise;
  2. (b) as to the time when payments are to be made;
  3. (c) conferring a right to interest on anything unpaid; and
  4. (d) permitting a London local authority to anticipate a payment under this section when making calculations in accordance with section 32 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (originally or by way of substitute).

(5) The Lord Chancellor may with the consent of the Treasury make provision by regulations made by statutory instrument as to how any kind of the Authority's expenditure is to be determined.

(6) Subject to any such regulations, the Lord Chancellor may direct that in determining any kind of the Authority's expenditure there shall be taken into account or disregarded, to such extent as may be specified in the direction, such items as may be so specified.

(7) A statutory instrument containing regulations made by virtue of this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.'.—[Mr. Vaz.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 101 to 103 and 105 to 118.

Mr. Garnier

I rise merely to ask—perhaps it should have been a point of order—why the Minister considers it appropriate to move these lengthy amendments formally.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

That is not a matter for the Chair. If the Minister chooses to move them formally, that is a matter for him. If the hon. and learned Gentleman wishes to debate the amendments, he may do so.

Mr. Garnier

I merely seek an explanation from the Minister about what he intends. The Government have proposed legislation and Ministers are present. It is their duty to explain to the House, and therefore to the public, what they propose to do.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

That is a matter for the Minister, but he has chosen to move the amendment formally.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 101, in page 46, line 14, after 'The' insert 'Greater London Magistrates' Courts'.

No. 102, in page 46, line 38, leave out from 'fund;' to 'arrangements' in line 42 and insert 'and (b) make'.

No. 103, in page 46, line 45, after 'applying' insert— '(a) Part VIII of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (financial administration); and (b)'.—[Mr. Vaz.]

Forward to