Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

This amendment is part of an extremely long group of mostly government amendments. I have tabled also Amendments 159BA, 159PA, 159PB, 159WA and 159ZZ. The first of the amendments probes why Clause 49 prohibits the new Boundary Committee for England borrowing money, "““which is calculated to facilitate, or is incidental or conducive to, the exercise of its functions””." I have no doubt that the Minister will tell me why it should not be able to borrow money. Is it related to sensitivity about public sector borrowing?As a practical matter, the Boundary Committee can run itself, so it might want to borrow to acquire premises, for example. I then that there may be an issue about what borrowing means. Does incurring credit fall within the restriction? That would obviously be a real problem. My other amendments are to Schedule 1. Amendments 159BA, 159PA and 159PB provide for the Speaker’s Committee to oversee all appointments to the Boundary Committee as it does the appointment of electoral commissioners. The amendments were suggested to me by the Electoral Commission. The Minister will be aware of that and will want to take the opportunity to explain all the thinking behind the design of this schedule. Amendment 159WA provides that a chair who is removed from that office or decides to give it up would remain a member of the committee. It is designed to clarify whether that would be the case. Amendment 159ZZ relates to the clause on delegation. The schedule provides that: "““The Boundary Committee … may delegate any of its functions to any of its members, employees, committees or sub-committees””." I am not convinced that the functions under these clauses are appropriate for delegation to an individual, although they may be appropriate for delegation to a sub-committee. The Government have tabled Amendment 160C and they will no doubt explain their slightly tweaked thinking on delegation. I hope that I have covered all my amendments. I beg to move.