§ Lords amendment: No. 18.
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerWith this we may consider Lords amendment No. 19.
§ Phil HopeThe amendments amend schedule 1 to make minor consequential amendments to the Local Government Act 1985 and the Severn Bridges Act 1992. Unfortunately, the need for these amendments was not picked up at an earlier stage of drafting, so the changes were made during the Bill's consideration in the Lords.
§ Mr. HammondIt is more sloppy drafting due to the pressure of legislation, the artificial curtailment of debate and the improper consideration of Bills.
There may be those who think that there could be no question to ask on these amendments, but I have one question for the Minister. Lords amendment No. 19 deletes the reference to
fire authority under the Fire Services Acts 1947 to 1959and substitutes the term "fire and rescue authority". We understand why: the Bill introduces that term. Why is it not necessary to provide a statutory reference to the term—in other words to a fire and rescue authority under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004—when 452 clearly the architecture of the Severn Bridges Act previously required the term "fire authority" to be clarified by the wordsunder the Fire Services Act 1947 to 1959"?I know that the Minister will have given consideration to that point and I would be grateful if he could clarify that apparent inconsistency.
§ Phil HopeI was, of course, well aware of the concern that the hon. Gentleman has expressed. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond at this precise moment, but I can assure him that the change is of minor consequence. I will write to him and clarify the point that he has raised. [Interruption.] Inspiration has arrived. Lords amendment No. 19 amends section 8 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 so that it refers to fire and rescue authorities under the Bill rather than fire authorities under the 1947 Act. It is consequential to the primary legislation.
§ Lords amendment agreed to.
§ Lords amendment No. 19 agreed to.