Local Government Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to my noble friend. I was not ignoring Exeter—it was of course part of the partnership that included Suffolk—for these proposals. I will return to where I was. Nobody thought that Exeter or Norwich could fulfil the five criteria. It was not until we were very close to the election that there was a sudden switch of view and a decision that they met them. The view taken by the coalition was that it was improper to go ahead on the basis that had been decided. In any event, the matter went to court. By the time we discussed this, the judge had quashed the orders and that resulted in the elections. We have had heated debates in this House on this matter. It is now time for us to put this aspect of it to bed. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.