division_name: Royal Assent &#8212; Public Bodies Bill [Lords]
motion: <p class="" pid="c.212.3/1" pwmotiontext="yes">I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.</p>
  
  <p class="" pid="c.212.3/2" pwmotiontext="yes">It seems almost unseemly to move a Second Reading in the wake of the august tributes to the retiring Clerk of the House. It is actually quite appropriate, because many of the tributes to Sir Malcolm, which I heartily endorse, talked about his understanding of and commitment to the powers of this House. Central to those powers is the House&#8217;s power and right to hold the Executive to account. That is essentially what the Bill is about. It will enlarge the scope of the state&#8212;the public realm&#8212;which this House and Parliament can hold to account, and reduce the scope of quangos and non-departmental public bodies and the range of public state entities that are not accountable to a democratic authority. That is long overdue. The Bill will put in place a mechanism that will enable this Government and future Governments to change the landscape of those bodies without the need for separate primary legislation whenever anything is sought to be done.</p>
  
  <p class="" pid="c.220.0/1" pwmotiontext="yes">I beg to move,</p>
  
  <p class="" pid="c.220.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">That this House, while agreeing that there needs to be a constant reassessment of the role, effectiveness and relevance of public bodies, declines to give a second reading to the Public</p>
  
  <p pid="c.270.6/1" pwmotiontext="yes"><i>Question put</i>, That the amendment be made.</p>
  
  <p class="italic" pid="c.270.6/2" pwmotiontext="yes">The House divided:</p>
  
  <p pid="c.270.6/3" pwmotiontext="yes">Ayes 231, Noes 307.</p>