HL Deb 29 July 1999 vol 604 cc1740-1

(" . With the approval of the Assembly, the Mayor may nominate a member to the board of each of the following bodies—

  1. (a) the London Arts Board;
  2. (b) the South Eastern Museums Service, or its successor bodies;
  3. (c) the London region of the Sports Council; and
  4. (d) the London region of English Heritage.")

The noble Viscount said: The amendment seeks to formalise on the face of the Bill the ability of the mayor, if he wishes, to nominate a member to the board of the London Arts Board, the South Eastern Museums Service or its successor bodies, the London region of the Sports Council and the London region of English Heritage. There may be perfectly good reasons why he may not wish to, but it seems to those of us on these Benches who put our names to the amendment that it is appropriate that this power should be on the face of the Bill. The wording is "may" and not "shall", giving the mayor the possibility of considering whether it is appropriate in each case. I beg to move.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The issue raised by the noble Viscount is the mayor's role in appointments to four London cultural bodies—the London region of English Heritage, the London Arts Board, the South Eastern Museums Service and the London region of the Sports Council.

The intention in the White Paper was, and remains, that the mayor should be closely involved with important London bodies and should work fully in partnership with them. Participation in appointments will serve an effective as well as a symbolic role. However, after looking at the proposals in detail we have concluded that legislation is not the right approach to achieving this. We had discussions with the organisations before the Bill was published and we are revisiting the subject now that the Bill is in progress to ensure that our intentions are fulfilled.

What we intend is that the mayor should nominate members to the appropriate boards or committees. This will be achieved either by agreement and partnership or by changes to the organisations' constitutions. Our proposal will accord with the arrangements outlined in the White Paper, which says that the mayor will be consulted by the chairs of English Heritage, the London Arts Board and the South Eastern Museums Service.

As we made clear in the White Paper in paragraph 5.189, we are looking for, a partnership model for the relationship between these bodies and the Mayor". Given the non-statutory status of the various boards and committees involved and the willingness of the bodies themselves to co-operate, we have decided that it is both impractical and unnecessary to use legislation to achieve this partnership. That is why we are adopting a non-statutory approach.

I hope that the noble Viscount will feel that we are achieving the objective of his amendment, although we are saving statutory time and the time of parliamentary counsel.

Viscount Falkland

I thank the Minister for his very full answer, which I shall study in Hansard. Meanwhile, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 306 [Interpretation of this Part and exercise of Authority functions]:

[Amendment No. 455ZAA not moved.]

Clause 306 agreed to.

Baroness Gardner of Parks moved Amendment No. 455A:

After Clause 306 insert the following new Clause—