Member

We remain committed to the involvement of lords-lieutenant in the regional council structure. Detailed governance arrangements, including links with lords-lieutenant within that structure, are more appropriately set out in secondary legislation. Let me just say defensively—I am not often defensive—that the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, has to understand this: I take the point that noble Lords cannot amend secondary legislation. That is why I said that it is really important that this Committee has the draft regulations, because those can be amended and adapted. People may say that it should be in primary legislation, but at least I am trying to provide the Committee with another step by which noble Lords can try to influence what the regulations should be before they are set in stone.