"My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, for Amendment 6 on further devolution of powers. As your Lordships will know, one of the core aims of the Bill is to create a standardised devolution framework, with a consistent and coherent set of functions held by strategic authorities and …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"We are basically saying that, where we can do that, we will, but where there are not the structures of a local, parish or town council, we might not be able to do that. The best way forward is therefore to have a system that is flexible and works with …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Teverson, for his amendments on devolution in Cornwall and for meeting with my noble friend to discuss them in more detail. I pay tribute to the noble Lord for his long-standing advocacy for Cornwall, preserving its distinct identity and supporting its local …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, for the amendments on precepts. The precept reforms which Amendment 77 seeks to prevent will enable mayors to levy a precept across the full range of an authority’s functions, giving them greater freedom in how they resource and deliver their priorities. …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"My Lords, we are about to start the first day on Report on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. There are 13 groups to be considered. I will therefore briefly remind the House of some of the key parts of the Companion, with the intention of helping us …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, for her amendment on voting arrangements. Directly elected mayors have a unique democratic mandate. They are the only authority member directly elected by the whole of the authority area to provide leadership and direction. Requiring their agreement on key decisions reflects this mandate …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"My Lords, I remind the House that the next 20 minutes are reserved for questions from Back-Benchers only. I know the whole House would appreciate these rules being adhered to, in order to ensure that as many noble Lords as possible get a suitable opportunity to ask questions of the …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"I note that, according to paragraph 4.42 of the Companion, the usual advisory speaking times still apply. It is 20 minutes for openers and winders and 15 minutes for everyone else. That includes the noble Lord and the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey...." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech
"My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, for introducing this report and to the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, the outgoing chair and now the Lord Speaker. Having been on the receiving end of some of his incisive questions in the Chamber, I can just imagine what …..." Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - View Speech