Member

The purpose of this delegated power is narrow. It facilitates the smooth and orderly conversion of a combined county authority to a combined authority, where necessary, so that the authority can continue to function properly following local government reorganisation. This is needed, as there are separate Acts of Parliament that provide for combined authorities and combined county authorities. To that end, the delegated power has been crafted to allow for any instances where primary legislation may need to be amended once a combined county authority has been converted to a combined authority, to ensure that there is no change in the functions conferred on a strategic authority before and after its conversion. Nevertheless, I welcome the spirit in which the noble Lord has brought forward his amendment. I reassure him that I will reflect on whether the Secretary of State requires this power to apply to future primary legislation ahead of Report in this House.