Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

Does the Minister take on board the dismay that must be felt throughout the guild of freemen movement? The freemen of England and Wales had, almost unanimously, accepted the thrust and principle behind what I would clumsily call my amendments. All but one of them were embraced. At the end of the day, the Bill will show that that one view prevailed. I simply fear for the fact that, after six years of my time, the department and its officials—for whom I have the highest respect in seeking to do that which I and others conveyed to them—will find that they have insufficient time for the next period, until the explanations that the Minister has given are worked through. It is not that they cannot work them through; indeed, they might do so. However, they were wrong-footed, as I was, in that, having passed my amendment, we did not conceive that the Newcastle view, which will be well known, would be accepted on its own. We were heartened by the Minister stating in the Commons three times that there was no need for it. Well, you pays your money and you takes your choice.