Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Perhaps that is not the best phrase to use today. Funding from central government to local authorities tends to be related to, whether explicitly or unadmittedly, guidance and the direction that central government wants local government to follow. Amendment 76 was tabled in that light. My Amendment 74 would provide that, as well as guidance to local authorities, guidance should be provided to the bodies that are mentioned in Clauses 2, 3 and 4 about how they should contribute to the local authorities’ discharging of their duties. That is perhaps a more convoluted way of saying what my noble friend says with Amendment 65. I read Hansard from last week and I have to say that I am as puzzled as other noble Lords from this side of the Committee clearly were about what the bodies referred to in Clauses 2, 3 and 4 might be required to do that they are not already doing. The noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, rightly made a good deal of that point. What more can local authorities do to promote understanding of those other bodies? However, if there is to be a duty, those bodies need to be brought into the jigsaw to give the information. Amendment 75 would provide that, before giving guidance, the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers should consult not only the principal local authorities but also the connected authorities. One hopes that that would not need saying, but let me say it now so that, if we do not get anything in the Bill, we will at least get something in Hansard, which would be reassuring.