Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

I am going to withdraw Amendment 168C, although I should like to be satisfied that leaders’ boards will be representative of the whole region. Of course, it all depends on what you mean by the whole region. You could put the region into big areas and say that there was someone from there and therefore the boards were representative, but they will not really be representative. There will be a lot of councils. Most people will never have heard of the boards and will have no idea what is going on in their name until they discover what decisions they make. I still do not understand why leaders’ boards need to be incorporated. 4NW has a staff structure chart on the internet and appears to employ 37 people. I am not sure how that works, as I am certain that it is not incorporated. I assume that they are the people who previously worked for the regional assembly, but I ask who employed them because that was not an incorporated body. Therefore, I do not know how it works, but perhaps someone can find out. We will read with great care what the Minister said and see whether we want to bring back some of these issues. Meanwhile, I beg leave to withdraw Amendment 168C. Amendment 168C withdrawn. Amendments 168D to 169ZA not moved. Amendment 169A had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List. Amendments 169B to 172 not moved. Amendment 172A had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List. Amendment 172AA not moved.