Member

I understand the concerns behind the amendment, emphasised by the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, and the calls for, and the importance of having, a clear plan for resource allocation and service provision—these have been broadly emphasised in the course of the debate. The plan referred to will form part of the items that support the Bill, through an implementation plan, but due to the uncertainty around future funding arrangements, we do not think these amendments will meet their intended purpose. This amendment could, for example, force the government and/or local areas completing their planning processes to set out unfunded or somewhat speculative plans ahead of any funding settlements, and, as such, those plans would lack credibility. I suggest to noble Lords that it would be more effective to set out plans when they are ready, as opposed to following a somewhat arbitrary timetable set out in legislation.