§ [References are to Bill 68 as first printed for the Commons.]
§ 1 Clause 2, page 2, line 45, after 'Council'" insert 'or the word "Council"'.
§ 2 Page 2, line 45, leave out 'Anglesey' and insert 'Cardiganshire'.
§ 3 Page 2, line 46, after 'Council'" insert 'or "Cardiganshire Council'".
§ 4 Page 3, line 6, after 'Council'" insert 'or the word "Council"'.
§ 5 Page 3, line 7, after 'Council'" insert 'or "Caerphilly Council'".
§ 6 Page 3, line 9, after 'Sirol'" insert "or the word "Cyngor"'.
§ 7 Page 3, line 10, after 'Caerffili'" insert 'or "Cyngor Caerffili'".
§ 8 Page 3, line 11, leave out 'Caerdydd, Powys and Abertawe' and insert 'Abertawe, Caerdydd and Powys'.
§ Lord Rodger of EarlsferryMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 1 to 8 en bloc. At the same time, and with your Lordships' leave, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 64 to 71 and 132.
Amendments Nos. 1 to 8 fulfil an undertaking given in the other place to allow the new authorities greater flexibility in determining their titles. All of the unitary authorities will be either counties or county boroughs, but they will have the option of describing themselves as, for example, "Monmouthshire Council" instead of "Monmouthshire County Council". We believe that this is a suitable matter for local determination.
Amendments Nos. 64 to 71 create two new authorities, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent, in place of the proposed Heads of the Valleys authority and include all of the Rhymney Valley district in the Caerphilly authority. These changes recognise the historic status of Merthyr as a county borough and the lack of common interest with Blaenau Gwent. Those are matters on which I think many of your Lordships spoke with a great deal of feeling during the Committee stage of the Bill. We are also proposing to place the Llanelly community in Monmouthshire rather than in Powys. This reflects the results of a locally organised referendum.
Finally, in keeping with a commitment I gave to your Lordships in the spring, we are proposing, through Amendment No. 132, to reduce the period during which the new authorities will have to seek the Secretary of State's agreement to any change of name. As noble Lords will see, they will now be free to change their names from 1st October 1996.
§ Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 1 to 8.—(Lord Rodger of Earlsferry.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ [Amendment No. 8A not moved.]