London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

I am not at all easy about the relationship in various parts of the Bill between the Mayor and the Secretary of State. When the Secretary of State is involved, she must be paramount. By definition, she is a Secretary of State. I am sure that the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, knows considerably more about the operation of local authorities in London than I do, but as regards Amendment No. 21, I believe that nothing would be gained by inserting ““the Mayor”” alongside the Secretary of State as a decision maker. I would have thought it was correct to maintain the Secretary of State, as the Bill has it, but the noble Baroness might persuade me that it is right that it should be the Mayor, because of future values and future financial interests to London. So at the moment, I would oppose her amendment. I shall leave discussion of Amendment No. 31 until we come to it.