Member

On Amendment 51, the Government agree with the objective of ensuring a strong collective voice for the regional councils. We intend to establish a national council and will set out its role within the governance framework for the new body. The question is therefore whether the detailed arrangements for a national council should be set in primary legislation or provided for through the governance framework. The Government believe that the latter approach is the more appropriate one. The Bill establishes the statutory framework for the new body. Detailed governance arrangements, including the composition and functions of a national council, are better set through secondary legislation and the wider governance framework so that, as a new body, it has greater freedom to evolve and adapt.