Member

I suspect the Minister will want the Secretary of State to have powers of flexibility and discretion to make up his or her mind in future, to fit in with other agendas and priorities. Do not forget that these powers will apply not only to this Secretary of State but to future Governments—and who knows what they will want? I, on the other hand, would like the rural definition to be instantly clear to everyone and to be in the Bill. Bearing in mind that the Minister’s definition, given in her letter, would include 91% of all parishes with a population of fewer than 3,000, that is acceptable to me. I am happy to accept her definition.