HL Deb 30 June 1994 vol 556 cc874-6

23 Clause 23, page 17, line 39, leave out from beginning to end of line 1 on page 18 and insert: '(4) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make such a combination scheme—

  1. (a) subsection (2) of section 6 of the Act of 1947 shall until 1st April 1996 be taken to require him to give notice to—
    1. (i) any existing fire authority whose area lies wholly or partly within the proposed combined area; and
    2. (ii) each of the new principal councils concerned; and
  2. (b) the requirement in that subsection with respect to public local inquiries shall not apply if—
    1. (i) the proposed scheme relates only to new principal areas; and
    2. (ii) the notice is given before 1st April 1996'.

24 Page 18, line 6, leave out from 'him' to end of line 7 and insert 'before the end of the specified period by any body to whom notice was given.'.

25 Clause 24, page 18, line 24, leave out from beginning to end of line 30 and insert: '(5) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make such an amalgamation scheme—

  1. (a)paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 to the Act of 1964 shall until 1st April 1996 be taken to require him to give notice—
    1. (i) to any existing police authority whose area lies wholly or partly within the area of the proposed combined police authority;
    2. (ii) where that police authority is a combined authority, to the councils of each of the counties comprised in the combined area; and
    3. (iii) to each of the new principal councils concerned; and
  2. (b) the requirement in paragraph 3 of that Schedule with respect to public local inquiries shall not apply if—
    1. (i) the proposed scheme relates only to new principal areas; and
    2. (ii) the notice is given before 1st April 1996.'.

26 Page 18, line 35, leave out from 'him' to end of line 36 and insert 'by any body to whom notice was given.'.

Lord Rodger of Earlsferry

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 23 to 26 en bloc.

These amendments fulfil undertakings given to your Lordships, as well as in another place, that we would consider further the scope of the requirement for the Home Secretary to consult local authorities before making any new fire combination schemes or police amalgamation schemes.

Having considered the matter further, we believe it is desirable for the existing fire and police authorities, as well as the new principal councils, to be expressly given an opportunity to comment on the arrangements for their own locality.

Accordingly, the amendments would require the Home Secretary to give notice of his proposals for fire service combination schemes or police amalgamation schemes in Wales not only to the shadow unitary authorities (whose area lies wholly or partly within the area of the proposed combined fire or police authority), but also to the existing fire or police authorities. The giving of the notice would carry with it a duty on the Home Secretary to consider the representations which result.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 23 to 26.—(Lord Rodger of Earlsferry.)

Lord Prys-Davies

My Lords, I merely wish to support the amendments. Obviously, they do not go as far as we would wish but nevertheless they place a duty on the Secretary of State to consider representations received from anybody who has received notice of a proposed scheme. We welcome the amendments.

On Question, Motion agreed to.