Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the Minister for responding, particularly on an amendment that, with all this Alphabetti Spaghetti before my eyes, I forgot to speak to. I would like to pick her up on something she said about it. I am grateful that she said she would look again at the position of districts in two-tier areas. It is more than just the specific question of whether they are automatically members of the economic prosperity board in their area. On a whole series of issues, the Bill does not recognise or take account of the real role that district councils in some counties play in economic development and regeneration in their area. It is true that district councils vary across the country probably more than any other type of council. Some districts still do not get involved in such things; others are the powerhouse more than is the county; then there are those in between. It is vital that districts are properly integrated if this is to happen. Where a whole county is in the EPB and the districts are not members, which the Bill provides for at the moment, will the districts have powers taken from them into the EPB, or will they simply be discounted? Secondly, under those circumstances, would districts be required to pay money over to the EPB to help to fund it?