Member

I believe that I have addressed the questions raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Stedman-Scott. She asked what confidence the Government could have that the Secretary of State has the appropriate technical expertise and knowledge. As I have said, there is a duty on the department to consult prior to laying the LGPS regulations; that means there would be an opportunity for the scrutiny of any regulations that would enact a merger. I have reassured the noble Baroness about statutory consultation and on how the Government would ensure that merger decisions are not influenced by political or short-term considerations. As I said, the Secretary of State cannot act unilaterally and there is an obligation to have that wider consultation, which emphasises the Secretary of State’s stewardship role for the scheme.