Member

The Secretary of State cannot add via regulations to strategic accommodation functions without first consulting local authorities and other appropriate persons. Further, if regulations were to be made, this would be done via the affirmative procedure, providing opportunity for further scrutiny. This is far from the fears that some might have had about an open-ended ability to be able to add to the scope, but, in these circumstances, it probably makes sense to be able—subject to the consultation and the affirmative procedure—to change those regulations in the future, not least dependent on the evaluation of the pathfinders, which I will come to a bit later.