Contributions
696 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I warmly welcome the new clause tabled by the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington. I refer colleagues to the fact that I have proposed a private Member’s Bill on exactly this…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I was not speaking at the moment of the point of order—the Minister was. I confess have been slightly thrown by the intervention from the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank the Minister for his comments. I will briefly pick up on a couple of the issues he mentioned. On housing for older people, and new clause 92, I welcome the Government’s…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)My point is brief: given that the Government have a limited amount of money available, should it not be spent on the things that are most effective in tackling the reality of the…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)The hon. Member has issued a paean to Help to Buy, which at the time it was introduced was identified as a policy that would likely drive up housing prices and do nothing to…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)Yes—both singing from the same hymn sheet on this. I refer the hon. Member for Broxbourne to the answer that I gave two minutes ago to those comments: I am not saying that just…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for his point, which is actually exactly the same point that the hon. Member for Barking made, essentially—20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I recognise that multiple factors drive the delivery of social and affordable housing—and, indeed, the achievement of any targets so to do—but what the hon. Member said is a bit…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)At the cost of social housing.20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)It continues to be a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. The new clause was tabled by the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire, and I give the Minister notice…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I rise to speak in support of new clause 7. I have spoken about flooding in the main Chamber at least five times. Constituents have come to see me in my surgeries to tell me that…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)In fairness, I did not draft the new clause. I recognise that it says six months, but as the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington spoke about so eloquently, we had proposals for…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am pleased to clarify that no, that is not my proposal, nor is it what the new clause says. It simply states: “Any national or local plan or strategy which relates to the…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I am delighted that the hon. Member agrees. We can all agree that there is a crisis in affordable and social housing. Unless we set targets to tackle that at every level of…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank all those who have contributed and the Minister for his very thoughtful responses. On new clause 1, I note the Minister’s assurances that existing mechanisms will be going…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I honestly do not entirely follow the Minister’s argument about this measure potentially replacing the work of local authorities in driving development plans, because that is…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 2 Review of the setting of local plans under the National Planning Policy Framework “(1) The…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. I am reflecting on the comments that the Minister just made on the broken speculative model of development that we are…20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.20 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Twelfth sitting)Will the Minister set out his definition of sustainable development?20 May 2025