HC Deb 08 November 1999 vol 337 c797

Lords amendment: No. 512, after clause 315, to insert the following new clause—Overseas assistance

.—(1) Section 1 of the Local Government (Overseas Assistance) Act 1993 (power of local authorities to provide advice and assistance overseas) shall be amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (6) there shall be inserted— (6A) For the purposes of subsection (1) above the Greater London Authority shall be treated as having skill and experience as respects a particular matter if—

  1. (a) the Authority does not have skill and experience as respects that matter,
  2. (b) the London Development Agency does have such skill and experience, and
  3. (c) the Agency provides advice and assistance as respects that matter to the Authority."

(3) In subsection (9)(a) (authorities given power to provide assistance) after "Wales," there shall he inserted "the Greater London Authority,".")

Mr. Hill

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

The amendment provides for the Greater London Authority and the London development agency to be able to provide assistance under the Local Government (Overseas Assistance) Act 1993, meeting assurances given by Ministers earlier in the Bill's passage.

Similar provision is not needed for Transport for London—which already has the power to offer such assistance under paragraph 9 of schedule 9 to the Bill—or for the police or fire authorities, which are already covered by existing legislation.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 513 and 514 agreed to.

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