§ Amendments made: No. 7, in page 2, line 40, leave out 'may' and insert 'must
§ No. 8, in page 2, line 42, at end insert—
§ '(8A) The Secretary of State is not required to cause an inquiry to be held under subsection (8) (but may do so) if—
- in a case within subsection (8)(a), the existing authorities in question agree to the making of the scheme,
- in a case within subsection (8)(b), the combined fire and rescue authority and any other authority which would, apart from the scheme, be a fire and rescue authority under section 1 and which would be affected by the variation or revocation, agree to the variation or revocation,
- in either case, it appears to the Secretary of State that the scheme, variation or revocation is to be made solely for the purpose of giving effect to an order under Part 4 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c.70), Part 2 of the Local Government Act 1992 (c.19) or section 17 of the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 (c.10), or
- in either case, the Secretary of State considers that, in the interests of public safety, the scheme should be made, varied or revoked without delay.'—[Phil Hope.]