Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

I thank the Minister and I apologise to the House. As someone who did not really want to start at the time we did, I am really sorry to those who have been waiting for the next debate. Again, I am short of time but I have to tell the Minister that I found the response completely inadequate for what I believe was a most serious group of amendments. We really have not had a satisfactory response. Perhaps I could just cite, on the mention of it being the first time that somebody directly elected would be taking these powers and that therefore we would have to have a completely different response, that I was elected and took decisions in relation to chief officers but I was covered by standard legislation. I do not see why commissioners should not be accountable to standards procedures, with proper committees of conduct and so forth. I really cannot follow that argument at all. I cannot accept the argument about chief officers appointing their own team. I am well aware of what some chief constables think about this. I have been a friend of Sir Paul Stephenson for more years than I could tell the House and this is one of the issues on which we have always disagreed, although we did so behind closed doors and did not necessarily advertise our differences to the public. I think he is wrong on this one, as I happen to believe that lay governance is important in top-team appointments. It works for local government in town halls, where a chief executive does not appoint their whole team. In fact, local councillors take part in appointing people in the team and I do not see why the same should not be true of policing. Why is policing different? I am sorry; I do not see the argument at all. As I say, I find the responses inadequate but, in view of the time, as I am sure that we will return to some of these matters on Report—I would be very surprised if we did not—I will withdraw my amendment. Amendment 123AB withdrawn. Clause 28 : Police and crime panels outside London Amendments 123B to 123D not moved. Clause 28 agreed. Schedule 6 : Police and crime panels Schedule 6 : Police and crime panels Amendments 124 to 139 not moved. Schedule 6 agreed. Amendment 139A not moved. Clause 29 : Power to require attendance and information Clause 29 : Power to require attendance and information Amendments 140 to 145 not moved. Clause 29 agreed. Amendments 146 and 147 not moved. Clause 30 : Suspension of police and crime commissioner Clause 30 : Suspension of police and crime commissioner Amendments 147A to 148D not moved. Clause 30 agreed. Amendment 149 not moved. Clause 31 : Conduct of commissioners Clause 31 : Conduct of commissioners Amendments 149A to 149C not moved. Clause 31 agreed. Schedule 7 : Regulations about complaints and conduct matters Schedule 7 : Regulations about complaints and conduct matters Amendments 149D and 150 not moved. Schedule 7 agreed. Clause 32 : London Assembly police and crime panel Clause 32 : London Assembly police and crime panel Amendments 151 to 159 not moved. Clause 32 agreed. Clause 33 : Functions to be discharged by police and crime panel Clause 33 : Functions to be discharged by police and crime panel Amendments 160 to 166B not moved. Clause 33 agreed. Amendment 167 not moved. Clause 34 : Engagement with local people Clause 34 : Engagement with local people Amendments 167ZA to 168 not moved. Clause 34 agreed. Clause 35 agreed. Clause 36 : Reports for elected local policing bodies Clause 36 : Reports for elected local policing bodies Amendment 169 not moved. Clause 36 agreed. Clause 37 agreed. Clause 38 : Appointment, suspension and removal of chief constables Clause 38 : Appointment, suspension and removal of chief constables Amendments 169A to 171C not moved. Clause 38 agreed. Schedule 8 : Appointment, suspension and removal of senior police officers Schedule 8 : Appointment, suspension and removal of senior police officers Amendments 172 to 177 not moved. Schedule 8 agreed. Clause 39 : Deputy chief constables Clause 39 : Deputy chief constables Amendments 177ZA to 178B not moved. Clause 39 agreed. Clause 40 : Assistant chief constables Clause 40 : Assistant chief constables Amendments 178BA to 178E not moved. Clause 40 agreed. Amendments 178EA to 178EC not moved. Clause 41 agreed. Clause 42 : Appointment of Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Clause 42 : Appointment of Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Amendment 178F not moved. Clause 42 agreed. Clause 43 : Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Clause 43 : Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis Amendment 178G not moved. Clause 43 agreed. Amendment 179 not moved. Clause 44 agreed. Clause 45 : Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Clause 45 : Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Amendment 179A not moved. Clause 45 agreed. Clause 46 : Deputy Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Clause 46 : Deputy Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Amendment 179B not moved. Clause 46 agreed. Clause 47 : Commanders Clause 47 : Commanders Amendment 179C not moved. Clause 47 agreed. Amendment 180 not moved. Clause 48 : Suspension and removal of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Clause 48 : Suspension and removal of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Amendments 181 to 184 not moved. Clause 48 agreed. Clauses 49 and 50 agreed. Amendment 185 not moved. Clause 51 : Election to fill vacancy in office of commissioner Clause 51 : Election to fill vacancy in office of commissioner Amendments 186 to 190 not moved. Clause 51 agreed. Clause 52 : Persons entitled to vote Amendment 190A Clause 52 : Persons entitled to vote Amendment 190A Moved by