My Lords, I very much welcome the introduction of powers going to mayors where there are mayors. That remains the democratic accountability. Can I ask the Minister to think again about policing boards, though? That did not work in the past. It is very important that there is proper democratic...

My Lords, I very much welcome the introduction of powers going to mayors where there are mayors. That remains the democratic accountability. Can I ask the Minister to think again about policing boards, though? That did not work in the past. It is very important that there is proper democratic...

On the urgency of the task, I note that the date for this commission to report is my birthday, which will be a lovely birthday present, and I also note the juxtaposition of that date with the timing of when this House will be dissolved ahead of a general election....

On the urgency of the task, I note that the date for this commission to report is my birthday, which will be a lovely birthday present, and I also note the juxtaposition of that date with the timing of when this House will be dissolved ahead of a general election....

Unallotted backbench debate (part one). Main question, as amended, agreed to.

Unallotted backbench debate (part one). Main question, as amended, agreed to.

No, IPSA has not considered the report. IPSA has said that it will consider the Committee's recommendations, as it considers the annual review of the scheme. As I have said, the Government have had to consider the report because the House is being invited today to decide whether to approve...

No, IPSA has not considered the report. IPSA has said that it will consider the Committee's recommendations, as it considers the annual review of the scheme. As I have said, the Government have had to consider the report because the House is being invited today to decide whether to approve...

I see the right hon. Gentleman nodding to that. Or it is a substantial change that would alter significantly the way in which IPSA functions. If it is a modest change, it is unnecessary and would have no practical implication. Hon. Members will be aware that one amendment made to...

I see the right hon. Gentleman nodding to that. Or it is a substantial change that would alter significantly the way in which IPSA functions. If it is a modest change, it is unnecessary and would have no practical implication. Hon. Members will be aware that one amendment made to...

I will take one more intervention on this before moving on. I will therefore take it from the Chairman of the Committee.

I will take one more intervention on this before moving on. I will therefore take it from the Chairman of the Committee.

It is one of the conclusions of the report. I will now move on to the three recommendations. Most of the recommendations in the report are for IPSA to consider. As Members on both sides of the House have said, many of the recommendations are very sensible and I hope...

It is one of the conclusions of the report. I will now move on to the three recommendations. Most of the recommendations in the report are for IPSA to consider. As Members on both sides of the House have said, many of the recommendations are very sensible and I hope...

Yes, IPSA put out a press notice, which is on its website for everyone to see. It has confirmed—[Interruption.] Will the hon. Gentleman let me answer his first intervention? IPSA has confirmed publicly that it will look at this report and consider the recommendations of the Committee. Indeed, it has...

Yes, IPSA put out a press notice, which is on its website for everyone to see. It has confirmed—[Interruption.] Will the hon. Gentleman let me answer his first intervention? IPSA has confirmed publicly that it will look at this report and consider the recommendations of the Committee. Indeed, it has...

I am grateful to be called at this stage of the debate, but it is worth saying at the start that because the report was published only on Monday, the Government have not had the opportunity formally to respond to the Committee and to set out our views. I thought...

I am grateful to be called at this stage of the debate, but it is worth saying at the start that because the report was published only on Monday, the Government have not had the opportunity formally to respond to the Committee and to set out our views. I thought...

May I make a little progress, because I need to set out the Government's concerns about the report? [Interruption.] I will come to that. The problem is that the motion asks the House—I will come to the amendment in a minute—to approve all the recommendations in the report. It is...

May I make a little progress, because I need to set out the Government's concerns about the report? [Interruption.] I will come to that. The problem is that the motion asks the House—I will come to the amendment in a minute—to approve all the recommendations in the report. It is...

I have not commented on the amendment yet. It is a fact that most of the report's recommendations are for IPSA to consider. One or two are for the Government to consider, and I shall set out our view on them because the House has been asked to take a...

I have not commented on the amendment yet. It is a fact that most of the report's recommendations are for IPSA to consider. One or two are for the Government to consider, and I shall set out our view on them because the House has been asked to take a...

I will. In summary, the recommendations that trespass on IPSA's independence are recommendations 2, 3, and 17(c). It is worth drawing the House's attention to one other thing. My hon. Friend the Member for Windsor and the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr Raynsford) made it clear that...

I will. In summary, the recommendations that trespass on IPSA's independence are recommendations 2, 3, and 17(c). It is worth drawing the House's attention to one other thing. My hon. Friend the Member for Windsor and the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr Raynsford) made it clear that...

Hang on. Let me finish this point and I will give way. Paragraph 204 of the report acknowledges that some of the Committee's ““recommendations require legislative changes”” but also states that other recommendations do not require legislation"““but could be brought about in that way if IPSA does not act.””" The...

Hang on. Let me finish this point and I will give way. Paragraph 204 of the report acknowledges that some of the Committee's ““recommendations require legislative changes”” but also states that other recommendations do not require legislation"““but could be brought about in that way if IPSA does not act.””" The...

No, it is not the Government's position and it is not what I said. If we were simply transmitting this report to IPSA, I would have no problem with it; the report has a number of sensible recommendations. However, if we were considering the motion, which asks this House to...

No, it is not the Government's position and it is not what I said. If we were simply transmitting this report to IPSA, I would have no problem with it; the report has a number of sensible recommendations. However, if we were considering the motion, which asks this House to...

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's point, which is an important one. The House set up a proper way in which to express its views when it legislated to create IPSA—statutory consultees include Members. IPSA also has an annual review, as the amendment makes clear. The proper thing to do...

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's point, which is an important one. The House set up a proper way in which to express its views when it legislated to create IPSA—statutory consultees include Members. IPSA also has an annual review, as the amendment makes clear. The proper thing to do...

I am grateful to you, Madam Deputy Speaker. If the recommendation simply stated that the House should have a general chat about the proposals, that would be one thing, but it specifically states that the House should be asked to make a decision on whether to change the system of...

I am grateful to you, Madam Deputy Speaker. If the recommendation simply stated that the House should have a general chat about the proposals, that would be one thing, but it specifically states that the House should be asked to make a decision on whether to change the system of...

I am happy to agree with my hon. Friend that we have explained the matter enough to the House. I have set out my view of what the Committee report states, and he has set out his. The House will be asked shortly to take a view on that, and...

I am happy to agree with my hon. Friend that we have explained the matter enough to the House. I have set out my view of what the Committee report states, and he has set out his. The House will be asked shortly to take a view on that, and...

I know that my hon. Friend has set out clearly what he intended by the report, but his motion asks the House to approve the words in the recommendation, and those words mean what they mean—they ask the House ““to make a decision””. Although he said that only primary legislation...

I know that my hon. Friend has set out clearly what he intended by the report, but his motion asks the House to approve the words in the recommendation, and those words mean what they mean—they ask the House ““to make a decision””. Although he said that only primary legislation...

The right hon. Gentleman has put it very well. I cannot really add anything to what he has said. A number of Members talked about costs and how efficiently IPSA did its job. I should emphasise that IPSA itself has a legal duty to be efficient and cost-effective. The National...

The right hon. Gentleman has put it very well. I cannot really add anything to what he has said. A number of Members talked about costs and how efficiently IPSA did its job. I should emphasise that IPSA itself has a legal duty to be efficient and cost-effective. The National...

I hear what the right hon. Gentleman says, but I have made it clear that IPSA has a legal duty to carry out its work and to ensure that we are ““efficiently, cost-effectively and transparently”” supported in the carrying out of our functions. However, IPSA must balance that duty with...

I hear what the right hon. Gentleman says, but I have made it clear that IPSA has a legal duty to carry out its work and to ensure that we are ““efficiently, cost-effectively and transparently”” supported in the carrying out of our functions. However, IPSA must balance that duty with...