Government: Draft Legislative Programme

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for introducing the draft legislative programme. The initiative is very good in principle, but I wonder how it will work in practice. We have had initiatives before, including one in 1998 on annual corporate reports, but they were dropped after three years. In contemplating speaking today, I thought that there was something odd about the initiative, and I was reminded of something. It was the summer of 1958—a good one, by the way. I remember it well because I took the GCE O-level exams. As the exams came to a close, one or two of us learnt how to play bowls in the public parks; and then all the exams came to a close. When we went back to school, we thought that the next fortnight would be a rather splendid period, but we were told, ““No, now you have to start on the A-level course for the last fortnight of your fifth year””. In a way, that is how it feels today. In previous years we have gone off in the summer, with a bit of overlap in October, guessing what might be in the Queen’s Speech, but now we have had our homework set and we know something of it. I am glad that there is still a bit of mystique around. The document says that the Queen’s Speech will be undiminished, but I think that it will have changed; something has happened. Perhaps the Minister can tell us whether there will be a four-day debate and about any changes in how it is run. Let us turn, however, to the status of that which is before us. One thing that we are getting is information; we get plenty of that. We are also getting consultation, which is all right if people take notice of the consultees. There is a further stage called involvement, and beyond that there is change. The interesting thing will be where all this leads us. We on these Benches take the detail seriously, and behind me is a galaxy of talent who will speak after me in detail about the Bills that concern them and which will be their homework. In looking at this document, one must not forget to look also at The Governance of Britain, the other document, because the two are interwoven. I want to look at the process and address the themes. There are several references to Green Papers, White Papers and reports by distinguished authors. Well, that’s okay if these reports and their authors got it right. It seems to me that those who will be looking at the Bills will have even more homework in looking at those reports and what those authors had to say. In the 23 Bills the geographic area of application is clearly stated, and reference is made to devolution and the ““Memorandum of Understanding with the Devolved Administrations””, which is useful. I always wonder about England and its regions, but I note that there are references to Select Committees for the regions in the other document. Will we mirror that in this House, as well as having government Ministers of the regions? One thing that looks certain from this document is the seven new quangos. Housing is rightly a priority, but will a new homes authority and an infrastructure planning commission mean that more and better houses will be built? We need to be careful and take a view on whether it will help or hinder. I suspect that there will be questions on whether establishing these new bodies will be helpful. These Benches also will be concerned about the accountability of the seven quangos, as well as the multitude that went before. In The Governance of Britain, accountability of the quango is an important democratic issue. The gap in the Government’s position is the whole business of central and local. I look forward to Bill 4, which aims, "““to clarify the role of Government, both central and local””." There is a lot of work to be done on that, particularly on strengthening the local. I shall restrict myself to looking at Bill 23, the Unclaimed Assets Bill, to which I referred when the Statement was made. The main benefits are set out on page 63. It states that, "““unclaimed assets in the banking system … may be reinvested in society … to channel them back into the community … Funds for the Third Sector: … money that would not otherwise be available to be distributed in the community””." Earlier, as I was planning my departure from the flat, I saw information on Teletext stating it has been announced—perhaps it is to do with the Statement—that: "““Money from unused bank accounts is to be used by the Government to provide a youth centre in every town””," and that it is, "““part of a strategy to be unveiled … today””." The Bill refers to ““society and community””. Who knows best about local societies and communities? Do the Government know best? Should there be a youth centre in every town, or should there be another service; for example, a sports field or a sports hall? Is it necessarily youth who are deprived? What does ““every town”” mean? In one sense, what is a town? Where are we with housing estates and might they be more appropriate? On central or local, this Bill is about society and community; yet, today, it is announced on Teletext—not here—that the specific business of a youth centre in every town is being planned. I hope that our efforts in this House will improve and enhance all these Bills and will bear fruit. One test will be whether we hear more often the words, ““I accept the noble Lord’s amendment”” or ““I accept the noble Baroness’s amendment”” before the Minister sits down and is quite grateful.