HL Deb 25 October 1999 vol 606 c138

.—(1) Section 1 of the Local Government (Overseas Assistance) Act 1993 (power of local authorities to provide advice and assistance overseas) shall be amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (6) there shall be inserted — (6A) For the purposes of subsection (1) above the Greater London Authority shall be treated as having skill and experience as respects a particular matter if—

  1. (a) the Authority does not have skill and experience as respects that matter,
  2. (b) the London Development Agency does have such skill and experience, and
  3. (c) the Agency provides advice and assistance as respects that matter to the Authority.".

(3) In subsection (9)(a) (authorities given power to provide assistance) after "Wales," there shall be inserted "the Greater London Authority,".").

The noble Baroness said: My Lords, this amendment provides for the GLA and the LDA to be able to provide assistance under the Local Government (Overseas Assistance) Act, meeting assurances given by Ministers earlier in the passage of the Bill.

Similar provision is not needed for TfL, which already has the power to offer such assistance under paragraph 9 of Schedule 9 to the Bill, or for the police or fire authorities, which are already covered by existing legislation. I beg to move.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Lord Whitty moved Amendment No. 563C: After Clause 347, insert the following new clause—