Greater London Authority Bill

moved Amendment No. 22: 22: Clause 13, page 13, line 6, at end insert— ““( ) In issuing a direction under sub-paragraph (9), the chief finance officer shall have regard to the separate respective statutory functions of the London Assembly and the London Transport Users’ Committee.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, the amendment would place a duty on the authority’s chief finance officer to have regard to the respective statutory functions of the London Assembly and the London Transport Users’ Committee, otherwise known as TravelWatch. TravelWatch is a vital service for Londoners, and transport is one of the most vital public services in the city, as we all know because we all have to use it. Indeed, that importance is acknowledged later in the Bill in the clauses on health and inequality. The amendment would ensure that TravelWatch is given appropriate consideration by the chief finance officer; that the work of TravelWatch, which is a service invaluable to all Londoners, is considered for sufficient funding; and that funding will not be given at the expense of the Assembly and its important scrutiny function. I hope that the Minister will have overcome the objections she made in Committee, which seemed rather lacking in weight. Her argument was that only if the LTUC were to expand its functions would it be proper to consider its budget. I reiterate that the amendment does not seek to make substantive suggestions for the make-up of the LTUC budget; rather, it rightly places it near the top of the chief finance officer’s priorities. I beg to move.