Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her answer and noble Lords on this side of the House for their support. I accept that this is not a perfect amendment. Rather than debating the amendment, we are debating the principle of how the money that the RDAs have can be spent to best effect and the principle that there should be democratic accountability. In reply to the noble Lord, Lord Smith, I do not know how his RDA works, but the RDA for the eastern region tries to allocate the money reasonably fairly among the constituent authorities—the counties—in that region. Essex would therefore get its share. We are talking about how that money would be spent in Essex. The case that I have described—I hate to keep going back to it—is already a regional priority. There needs to be further clarity. The noble Baroness has suggested a meeting specifically on this issue but there is also a general principle about whether local authorities will work with RDAs generally to spend the limited sums they have to spend. I shall not press the amendment to a vote now although I know that I have quite a lot of support. However, I hope that there will be some clarity between now and Third Reading. It is a major issue. I do not want to argue with the Government. I want to get value for money out of the limited sums available and involve the local people who know best how that money should be spent. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Some Lords objected to the request for leave to withdraw the amendment, so it was not granted. Division on Amendment 166. Contents 33; Not-Contents 69. Amendment 166 disagreed. Clause 80 : Sustainable development Amendment 166A not moved. Schedule 5 : Regional strategy: amendments Amendments 167 and 168 not moved.