Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

I apologise to the Minister for having interrupted her speech earlier when she was developing a thoroughly coherent argument. In the light of the questions asked from my left, I cannot help remarking that in the previous legislation to which I alluded, district councils were not given the ability to remain out of a unitary authority. The unitary authority was carried through by central government—admittedly in collaboration with the county council—in such a way that the structure was altered. It is that inconsistency with what is being proposed now that makes one mildly suspicious of the process.