Greater London Authority Bill — 15 Dec 1998

Order read for resuming adjourned debate on amendment to Question [14 December], That the Bill be now read a Second time.

Which amendment was, to leave out from "That" to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:

Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.

That argument was hard to refute, but it did not win the day. The view was then taken that, because of the unique national and, indeed, imperial functions of the Met, the Home Secretary should remain the police authority. It should also be pointed out that the old LCC covered a much smaller area than the Metropolitan police district--poor alignment of boundaries is not just a modern curse.

I shall not repeat the arguments, as the Home Secretary knows them well.

The Minister for London and Construction yesterday waved a letter, as he did this afternoon, from someone calling himself the chair of the Association of London Government.

Question put, That the amendment be made:--

The House divided: Ayes 140, Noes 396.

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