Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

I take this opportunity briefly to restate what we expect from the LBRO. As I said, its core aim will be to support local authorities to regulate more effectively. Key will be embedding the principles of better regulation at the local level. It will be judged on its ability to build the capacity of local authority regulatory services and to reduce the regulatory burdens experienced by business. We strongly believe that local authority regulatory services have an essential role to play in encouraging economic progress. The LBRO will play a key role in ensuring that local authorities continue to do this. However, I am afraid we do not believe that it is necessary or desirable to include provision in the Bill requiring the LBRO to ensure that local authorities carry out their functions in a way that allows or encourages economic progress. We take the point of my noble friend Lord Desai—it is hard to believe that a local authority would do the opposite. We believe that there is a risk of overloading this organisation with multiple objectives that could well prove confusing and could undermine its central objective of better regulation. Therefore, I hope that the noble Lord will withdraw the amendment.