Lords statement on the Government's response to Sir Michael Pitt's final report on the floods of summer 2007.

Lords statement on the Government's response to Sir Michael Pitt's final report on the floods of summer 2007.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill (HL). Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Grand Committee.

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill (HL). Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Grand Committee.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to strengthening the Kenya National Assembly and improving accountability in Kenya; and by what means.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to strengthening the Kenya National Assembly and improving accountability in Kenya; and by what means.

My Lords, the point has been taken and I will ensure that the usual channels are open. I take note of what the noble Baroness said. Bill read a second time and committed to a Grand Committee.

My Lords, the point has been taken and I will ensure that the usual channels are open. I take note of what the noble Baroness said. Bill read a second time and committed to a Grand Committee.

My Lords, it is nearly six months since the Secretary of State made a Statement in another place, which was then repeated in your Lordships’ House, welcoming the final report of Sir Michael Pitt following the summer floods 18 months ago. We, too, welcomed that report and I welcome the...

My Lords, it is nearly six months since the Secretary of State made a Statement in another place, which was then repeated in your Lordships’ House, welcoming the final report of Sir Michael Pitt following the summer floods 18 months ago. We, too, welcomed that report and I welcome the...

My Lords, we, too, welcome the Statement. Even more, we feel that we should express our gratitude to Sir Michael Pitt for his thorough report and recommendations. Perhaps I may take your Lordships’ House just a little further back than the 2007 floods. I was involved in the flash floods...

My Lords, we, too, welcome the Statement. Even more, we feel that we should express our gratitude to Sir Michael Pitt for his thorough report and recommendations. Perhaps I may take your Lordships’ House just a little further back than the 2007 floods. I was involved in the flash floods...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, welcomed the Statement, but not much else. I thought that he was uncharacteristically critical of what the Government have been doing in this area. I wish to allay his concerns. He implied that the Government have been complacent in the speed with which...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, welcomed the Statement, but not much else. I thought that he was uncharacteristically critical of what the Government have been doing in this area. I wish to allay his concerns. He implied that the Government have been complacent in the speed with which...

My Lords, with the leave of the House I shall repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in another place. ““With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a Statement on the Government’s response to Sir Michael...

My Lords, with the leave of the House I shall repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in another place. ““With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a Statement on the Government’s response to Sir Michael...

My Lords, contrary to the noble Lord, Lord O’Neill, some of us are desperate to be in on the discussions on the Bill, but government business managers seem to be trying to prevent us. I shall say no more about that, having made the point in support of my noble...

My Lords, contrary to the noble Lord, Lord O’Neill, some of us are desperate to be in on the discussions on the Bill, but government business managers seem to be trying to prevent us. I shall say no more about that, having made the point in support of my noble...

My Lords, I also pay tribute to the Minister’s excellent tour d’horizon in introducing this legislation, although I have to say that when I listened to the speeches from the Front Benches opposite, my mind went back to the days when I worked in the Augean stables of Scottish local...

My Lords, I also pay tribute to the Minister’s excellent tour d’horizon in introducing this legislation, although I have to say that when I listened to the speeches from the Front Benches opposite, my mind went back to the days when I worked in the Augean stables of Scottish local...

My Lords, I declare my interest as president of the Local Government Association and I extend my thanks to the LGA not only for helpful briefings but for co-ordinating and expressing the local government perspective in its influential discussions on this Bill with central government. I know that the LGA...

My Lords, I declare my interest as president of the Local Government Association and I extend my thanks to the LGA not only for helpful briefings but for co-ordinating and expressing the local government perspective in its influential discussions on this Bill with central government. I know that the LGA...

My Lords, the meeting to which the noble Lord referred was one of which we were not aware. No discourtesy was intended, and we feel deprived of briefing. I hope he will pass on that it is clear that lines got crossed.

My Lords, the meeting to which the noble Lord referred was one of which we were not aware. No discourtesy was intended, and we feel deprived of briefing. I hope he will pass on that it is clear that lines got crossed.

My Lords, I welcome the Second Reading of this Bill and congratulate my noble friend on the thoughtful, sincere and intelligent presentation of its content. Those noble Lords who have worked over a long period with the noble Baroness, Lady Andrews, know that she is immensely sincere and thoughtful in...

My Lords, I welcome the Second Reading of this Bill and congratulate my noble friend on the thoughtful, sincere and intelligent presentation of its content. Those noble Lords who have worked over a long period with the noble Baroness, Lady Andrews, know that she is immensely sincere and thoughtful in...

My Lords, the noble Baroness is quite right: this is very much a mixed bag, but I shall not pursue the metaphor. Parts of the Bill apply to England and Wales; parts to England only; parts to Wales only and parts to Scotland and Northern Ireland only. All those differences...

My Lords, the noble Baroness is quite right: this is very much a mixed bag, but I shall not pursue the metaphor. Parts of the Bill apply to England and Wales; parts to England only; parts to Wales only and parts to Scotland and Northern Ireland only. All those differences...

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for her introduction to the Bill. I fear that that may be one of the only polite things that I have to say and I am not happy to be in that situation. I am sorry that she is landed with such a...

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for her introduction to the Bill. I fear that that may be one of the only polite things that I have to say and I am not happy to be in that situation. I am sorry that she is landed with such a...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her full and detailed description of the Bill. I am sure she will agree that the Short Title is a mouthful. Indeed, when I first heard the Title of the Bill—it is the first Bill that I have dealt with—I thought that it...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her full and detailed description of the Bill. I am sure she will agree that the Short Title is a mouthful. Indeed, when I first heard the Title of the Bill—it is the first Bill that I have dealt with—I thought that it...

That the Bill be read a second time. My Lords, I am delighted to introduce the Bill to the House. Noble Lords will know that this debate is taking place at a time of great economic upheaval, global in its origin but with a huge impact on local communities across...

That the Bill be read a second time. My Lords, I am delighted to introduce the Bill to the House. Noble Lords will know that this debate is taking place at a time of great economic upheaval, global in its origin but with a huge impact on local communities across...

My Lords, I hope that the calls of ““Hear, hear!”” are not too premature. This has been a long and interesting debate and it is a privilege to speak at the end of it. I am grateful to the Minister for her introduction of the Bill and for all the...

My Lords, I hope that the calls of ““Hear, hear!”” are not too premature. This has been a long and interesting debate and it is a privilege to speak at the end of it. I am grateful to the Minister for her introduction of the Bill and for all the...

My Lords, it is a particular pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Graham, because in recent years it has usually been he who follows me and immediately demolishes my arguments. I am not going to return the compliment—

My Lords, it is a particular pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Graham, because in recent years it has usually been he who follows me and immediately demolishes my arguments. I am not going to return the compliment—