Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 77:"Page 3, line 16, at end insert—" ““(   )   Regulated activity providers will not be subject to new or additional financial or resource burdens in order to meet their duties under this Act.”” The noble Baroness said: The amendment has come to me from the Local Government Association and has been tabled in the light of recent debates in both Houses on the state of local finances. Local authority budgets are under increasing pressure, and the pressure on councils to charge higher and higher taxes is rising. Council tax itself has risen by 84 per cent since 1997, yet we are continually placing extra burdens on our local authorities. There are some projects which cannot be compromised and I would argue that this project is one of them. Although it is vital that robust arrangements are put in place for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, it should be achievable within existing resources. There is no point in setting up a scheme that would be unaffordable. I would be grateful, therefore, if the Minister could inform the Committee of the details of the financing of the scheme and the time frame for its implementation. I beg to move.