Greater London Authority Bill

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply, although I remain totally unconvinced by it. As the noble Lord, Lord Tope, said, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? This authority has worked, and does work, extremely well in the current circumstances. It has always been made up broadly of elected members. No explanation of any real merit is given to justify why these two appointed positions should now go to the Mayor, and the problem that arose on Friday over the elected members’ appointments, which should have gone through without any controversy on the part of the Mayor, is, I am afraid, a lesson in what happens once one starts to tinker with what is there. I hear what the Minister says. I shall look at the matter again and we will see how things progress in the current rather unhappy situation. For today, however, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 48 and 48A not moved.] Clause 26 [Allowances]: [Amendment No. 48B not moved.] Clause 27 [Directions etc by the Mayor]: [Amendment No. 49 not moved.]