Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

My Lords, I welcome these amendments and thank the Minister for them. I congratulate my noble friends Lord Patel and Lady Andrews on bringing them forward. I have been a Member of this House for more than 25 years and have spoken to Bills when my party was in government and in opposition. However, I cannot recall a Bill where the relevant Minister has been prepared not only to listen but to indicate intentions. Immediately after giving an undertaking that the relevant matter would be looked at, the Minister, her colleagues and officials have written to me providing explanations and, invariably, concessions which meet the points that have been made. In this welter of discussion on local democracy, we have had a very good illustration of parliamentary democracy from the Minister, her colleagues and officials who have recognised that, particularly as regards this topic, one needs to concede that other people’s experience in local government may be wider or better than that of Ministers. My noble friend has been prepared to listen to their suggestions and to implement them. We can be satisfied that this Bill has been well researched and is well founded. We can also be satisfied that the Minister and her colleagues have sensibly listened to the comments made on the opposition Benches. I am very pleased to have been part of the team supporting the Minister. At times we were almost sworn to maintain silence in the interests of making progress. While I was silent, I listened to Members of the Opposition saying that they felt things were not quite right and recognised strands from my own experience in local government. They are entitled to express that view. The Minister should be congratulated on listening to what has been said. These amendments will result in the Bill being in a much better shape than it was initially. I congratulate all concerned on that.