I'm sure that many of you know this, but it came off the Parliament site this morning.

'Broads Authority Bill

The Bill is currently in the House of Commons, and has yet to be considered by the House of Lords

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Next stage:
Member(s) objected to the Bill being given a second reading on 30th January and on the 6th February 2007. The motion was blocked by Mr Richard Bacon MP and Mr Keith Simpson MP until 27th March 2007. There will now be a second reading debate on the bill on 25th April 2007.
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Recent stages:
The bill had a first reading on 23rd January 2007. The petitioning period in the House of Commons ended at 5pm on 30th January 2007 and 4 petitions were deposited against the Bill. (there will be an opportunity to petition against the Bill in the House of Lords at a later date).'

So, still time to lobby and advise our two friendly M.P.s!

calchas wrote:

I believe the allocated slot is 4-7pm. Might be on UK Parliament Sky Channel504

You should also be able to catch it live online at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/ , or indeed view the recording later.

If you prefer to squint at endless text, it should all be transcribed into Hansard with an understandable delay, with the full work available from 8am tomorrow.

Not sure about BBC Parliament (Freeview 81). They are currently (3.40pm) screening an external committee debate but may possibly come back to the House when it sits again at 4.00pm.

I'm afraid I can't tell you much about scheduling from my picnic stool outside Curry's window.

Oiy. Stop chucking coins.

GF

It really is a small world. I'm watching live from my hotel room in Dalian, China! Thanks JP

I keep wanting to slap someone Squits, but it would damage my laptop! It is remarkable how cleverly some people can (mis)use words...

Actually, the debate has been remarkably well-attended for a Private Bill debate in theory affecting only a small proportion of the UK. I didn't start watching till late on in the debate, but I found the interventions about electing members of the Authority fascinating.

Do you know, even with a proportion of Scots blood struggling to circulate around this time battered old frame, I do think that Hadrian's Wall was a splendid idea. But it seems some of them are still getting through. There must be a hole.

On the way down they collected the Chair of the All Party Waterways Group from Derby North, who clearly hadn't found time to read the Bill nor the petitions nor indeed hear any public concern or objection. Or perhaps he purposefully associated the word 'draconian' with BSS, insurance and hire boat licensing in order to dismiss it. Mr Laxton, I think you'll find that it is the direction, boarding and entry powers which have frequently been described as draconian, not those you cited. By no means the only example of spinning twist. Nor of twisting spin. Those folks over at Save Our Waterways must be having fun with this character.

In case you didn't catch it, Gardiner repeatedly emphasised that Defra are prepared to consider funding dredging ONLY for environmental purposes remote from navigation. OK so navigation may benefit to some small degree as a by-product, but they can't avoid that as much as they might wish. Norman Lamb was keen to cast doubt on the transparency of combined accounting, probably for that very reason. Me too, Norman.

As navigators, we have no ally in Defra. Not this side of a general election, anyway. The influence on the BA is abundantly clear after today if not before, likely restricting the BA's ability to address its three statutory purposes equally. Even if it had the desire. It might be worth checking back to find out whether Gardiner changed his name from Sandford.

Much was made of a proposal to include one or two parish/town council representatives on the BA board, but The Biologically Diverse One was into that with sporran flying and knife drawn. Elected representation. Are you kidding? That's dangerously close to democracy isn't it? It was Lamb who so aptly referred to a need to address the "democratic deficit". Wise words, I thought.

I was delighted that Lamb, not otherwise too well studied nor briefed, cornered BA puppet Ian Gibson on the legal status of agreements outside the Bill. Keith Simpson had pressed for them to be included within the Bill, but seemed almost satisfied by a mumble of unconvincing reasons why they aren't. Lamb forced Gibson to state on record that the agreements are legally binding, which he did, but terrier Lamb wasn't about to let that convince him without professional legal opinion. Gibson assured him that appropriate legal direction had been sought by the Bill's promoter and so it will be a simple matter to present it for Lamb's sight. I wonder if it will be available to Committee...

Lamb expressed concern over the breakdown of trust between the BA and those with an interest in the Broads. The BA should "reach out" to rebuild that trust. Methinks the BA would need very long arms so long as one Barry Gardiner is on the scene. His two points of the day were either anti navigation funding or anti democracy, so he ain't about to make many friends around here. His dismissive reference to the four petitions won't help much either - "Some people still don't agree with seat belts".

Some people still don't agree with nepotism either, but I musn't get party political here.

Sad about Yeltsin though, wasn't it?

GF

I thought the debate was a lovely example of how amateurish our Government system is. A great British tradition is being upheld.

To the committee of course.

Hopefully, this will steel some of those who did not feel it worthwhile to petition the Bill to change their minds when the Bill goes to the House of Lords.

We saw the Labour machine in action yesterday and it was not a pleasant sight.

The folly of appeasement was also there for all to see.

Get ready to order seat belts for your boat!