Bedfordshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008

Can I just say how grateful I am for the way in which noble Lords opposite have worked with the Government on these orders? I am very conscious that, with this order in particular, we have come up to the wire. There are lessons that we can learn in the process. I am sure that when we reflect on—to use the wonderful analogy—the game hanging in the larder, we will consider how we do it and learn from the process. The problem with Bedfordshire, as I explained, was that the politics were so complex that the timetable became extremely attenuated, and one of the consequences was the foreshortening of the consultation periods. Because everyone was going over the ground continually from last July, we felt that was sufficient, but we did all that we could to expedite it within the scope that we had. We are where we are. I did not quote at great length from the letters from the district councils, but a phenomenal amount of work is going on to put the new processes in place and to make sure that the services will be up and running, and that is going on with support from across the county. In answer to the question of what would happen if by any chance the order was not passed—I hear that in another place both parties have agreed not to oppose the order—a Motion will be on the Floor of the House on Thursday, and it will take effect on Thursday. If for any reason that did not happen, we would have to go ahead with the elections anyway; it would be too late. We were conscious of the timetable, and I make no bones about that. On what the noble Baroness said about the future processes, we will all reflect seriously on what we can do to improve processes in the future as we come up to the three unitaries. There are also some lessons that we can learn about consultation and other things, which I want us to learn. The mayor is not in the order because the order does not affect the mayoral cycle. The mayor will come up for election as and when that is due—