§ 34 Clause 32, page 24, line 37, leave out Clause 32.
§ 35 Clause 33, page 25, line 36, leave out Clause 33.
§ Lord Rodger of EarlsferryMy Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 34 and 35 en bloc. I shall speak also to Amendments No. 57 and 58. These clauses were intended to allow the new authorities in Wales the opportunity to experiment with alternative forms of political management within a framework provided by the existing system.
Nevertheless, we have noted the anxieties expressed by Members of the other place in Standing Committee and we have concluded that further consideration would be beneficial before any legislation on such changes. Accordingly, we decided that the introduction of a completely new unitary structure is not appropriate now and have decided to remove those clauses from the Bill.
§ Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 34 and 35.—(Lord Rodger of Earlsferry.)
§ 4.30 p.m.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, I warmly welcome Amendment No. 34. The House will recall that in Committee and on Report we were extremely concerned that the social services statutory committee could have been dispensed with under Clause 34. Given the importance of the social services for the people of Wales for very many years to come, we regard the statutory social services committee as an essential committee if we are to ensure continuity of care.
The co-ordination of social and health services in the community and the improvement of services for children, the handicapped and the elderly are very important and I am extremely pleased that the future of the committee is now assured.
I feel sure that the late Lord Seebohm, whom we miss greatly and who first recommended the concept of statutory social service committees, would have been gratified that the concept has been retained within the Welsh local government structure.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.