Greater London Authority Act 1999

Bills in Parliament

77 Power of Authority to promote or oppose Bills in Parliament

(1) The Authority may—

(a) promote a local Bill in Parliament for any purpose which is for the public benefit of the inhabitants of, or of any part of, Greater London; or

(b) oppose any local Bill in Parliament which affects any such inhabitants.

(2) Section 70 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (prohibition on promoting Bills for changing local government areas etc) shall have effect in relation to the Authority as it has effect in relation to a local authority.

(3) The functions conferred on the Authority by subsection (1) above shall be functions of the Authority which are exercisable by the Mayor acting on behalf of the Authority.

(4) The functions conferred on the Authority by subsection (1)(a) above are exercisable subject to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act.

(5) Before exercising the functions conferred on the Authority by subsection (1)(b) above, the Mayor shall consult the Assembly.

(6) No payment shall be made by the Authority (whether acting by the Mayor, the Assembly or the Mayor and Assembly acting jointly) to the Mayor or an Assembly member for acting as counsel or agent in promoting or opposing a Bill under this section.

(7) A London borough council or the Common Council may contribute towards the expenses of the Authority in promoting a local Bill in Parliament.

78 Power to request provisions in Bills promoted by London local authorities

(1) A local Bill promoted in Parliament by a London local authority may include provisions requested by the Authority.

(2) Subsection (1) above applies only if the Authority confirms the request in writing as soon as practicable after the expiration of 14 days after the Bill has been deposited in Parliament.

(3) If the Authority does not confirm the request as required by subsection (2) above, it shall give notice of that fact to the London local authority promoting the Bill.

(4) Where notice under subsection (3) above is given to a London local authority, that authority shall take all necessary steps for the omission from the Bill of the provisions in question or, if those provisions were requested also by other London local authorities under section 87 of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985, of those provisions so far as relating to the Authority.

(5) The functions conferred or imposed on the Authority by subsections (1) to (3) above shall be functions of the Authority which are exercisable by the Mayor acting on behalf of the Authority.

(6) Before exercising the functions conferred on the Authority by subsection (1) or (2) above, the Mayor shall consult the Assembly.

(7) If, in accordance with this section, the Authority requests the inclusion of provisions in a Bill promoted by a London local authority, the Authority may contribute towards the expenses of the London local authority in connection with the Bill.

(8) In consequence of the other provisions of this section, in section 87(3) of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985 (consequences of non-confirmation of requests by London local authorities for inclusion of provisions in Bills promoted by others) after “other councils” there shall be inserted “, or by the Greater London Authority under section 78 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999,”.

(9) In this section “London local authority” means—

(a) a London borough council; or

(b) the Common Council.

79 Authority’s consent to inclusion of certain provisions in local Bills

(1) A local Bill promoted in Parliament by a London local authority may include provisions which affect the exercise of statutory functions by the Authority or any of the functional bodies.

(2) Subsection (1) above applies only if the Authority—

(a) gives its written consent; and

(b) confirms that consent in writing as soon as practicable after the expiration of 14 days after the Bill has been deposited in Parliament.

(3) If the Authority does not confirm the consent as required by subsection (2)(b) above, the Authority shall give notice of that fact to the London local authority promoting the Bill.

(4) Where notice under subsection (3) above is given to a London local authority, that authority shall take all necessary steps for the omission from the Bill of the provisions in question or, if those provisions were requested by other London local authorities under section 87 of the [1985 c. 51.] Local Government Act 1985, of those provisions so far as relating to the Authority or the functional body concerned.

(5) The functions conferred or imposed on the Authority by subsections (2) and (3) above shall be functions of the Authority which are exercisable by the Mayor acting on behalf of the Authority.

(6) Before exercising the functions conferred on the Authority by subsection (2)(a) or (b) above, the Mayor shall consult the Assembly.

(7) Nothing in this section applies in relation to provisions requested under section 78 above.

(8) In this section “London local authority” means—

(a) a London borough council; or

(b) the Common Council.