Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

I wish to speak briefly to Amendment No. 238Q. It is self-explanatory. Its purpose is to provide independence of the host organisation and, through it, LINks from the local authority. In other words, to use my noble friend’s own words, to stop them being a creature of the local authority: he who pays the piper must not call the tune. We want this to be in the Bill so that if this direction is not obeyed the local authority will be committing an offence and can be called to account for it. I do not need to say much more. The noble Baroness knows exactly what she is going to say and we look forward to hearing it.