Greater London Authority Bill

No, I do not accept that that is the net effect. Indeed, that effect has been hugely exaggerated. The hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) expressed shock and horror about the transfer of powers to the Mayor, but derided the Mayor’s statement that 99 per cent. of decisions will stay with the boroughs. He cannot have it both ways. Strategic decisions are clearly major decisions, but they are a tiny minority of planning decisions. If one believes—and I do not know whether the Opposition parties do so—in a strategic authority for London and a democratically elected Mayor, with proper scrutiny by the assembly, surely that is the appropriate course to follow. I return to the point that I was making a moment ago. I believe that opposition to the Bill comes down to disagreements not on planning matters in general, but on housing specifically, and arises from the nimby attitude constantly displayed by the Conservative and Liberal parties.