Examination of Witnesses (Questions 297
- 299)
WEDNESDAY 12 MAY 2004
CLLR TONY
PAGE, CLLR
RAMON WILKINSON
AND CLLR
PATRICK COLEMAN
Q297 Chairman: After a lively group
of witnesses who were very much divided on questions of religion,
we now have three witnesses and can I welcome Tony Page, Patrick
Coleman and Ramon Wilkinson who are from very distinct parts of
the country. I think we have Reading, Cambridge and Wiltshire,
and three distinct political parties. That is right, is it not?
Cllr Page: Yes.
Q298 Chairman: Although only two
of you are identified in party terms in our briefing. Tony, you
had no party affiliation but we put two and two together. I will
allow one of you to say some opening remarks but we do not have
the time for all three of you to make opening remarks.
Cllr Page: Just to emphasise that
we do represent the three parties on the Local Government Association;
we have been working in unity on this and hopefully the views
that we express this morning will reflect the consensus amongst
the parties on the Local Government Association. We strongly support
the Bill and the initiative that has been taken by the Joint Secretaries
of State. We had a seminar last year which was addressed by Charles
Clarke which effectively started the process which has culminated
in the draft Bill. We have made our own submission to Government
and to yourself and we look forward to the Bill progressing.
Q299 Chairman: Thank you for that
and it is very good to have the LGA here. Can I begin by asking
though, you have just confessed really that it is all your fault
. . . The reason that we have a bill is that the LGA works under
pressure from Government—I would have thought and you have
wanted a bill for some time.
Cllr Coleman: I think you compliment
us a little too much there! It was helpful to have a couple of
Secretaries of State who wanted to engage with the issue as a
matter of priority because of the legislation from our perspective
being so out of date.
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