Contributions
2,107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLocal Authorities: Adopted Local PlansAs the hon. Gentleman pointed out, we commenced a formal process of intervention in 15 local authorities to ensure that they fulfil their obligations. I have spent the last 12…22 Jul 2019HANSARDLocal Authorities: Adopted Local PlansUnder the current plan-making regime, 37 local authorities have yet to adopt a local plan. Of these, 27 have submitted their draft plan for examination. We continue to monitor…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Town and Country PlanningI beg to move, That the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, which were…15 Jul 2019HANSARD Town and Country PlanningI am grateful to the hon. Lady for her remarks. I accept the challenge that if we are to hit 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s we need to find a way to get more resources into…15 Jul 2019HANSARD Intentional Unauthorised DevelopmentI hear my hon. Friend’s view of the legislation, but, as I say, it is not the generally accepted view that came through in the consultation. I am more than happy to take a…09 Jul 2019HANSARD Intentional Unauthorised DevelopmentI congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for North East Hertfordshire (Sir Oliver Heald) on securing this debate. He has been a persistent and formidable…09 Jul 2019HANSARD Intentional Unauthorised DevelopmentI certainly share my hon. Friend’s aspiration for local authorities to be able to move extremely quickly in these circumstances, and a lot of the measures that we are putting in…09 Jul 2019HANSARD Intentional Unauthorised DevelopmentAs I said earlier, I am keen for us to strengthen the measures that can be taken against intentional unauthorised development, on which my right hon. and learned Friend is very…09 Jul 2019HANSARD Intentional Unauthorised DevelopmentI will come on to this in a moment, but, as my right hon. and learned Friend will know, along with all elements of a local plan, five-year supply is often the subject of legal…09 Jul 2019HANSARD Intentional Unauthorised DevelopmentOn my right hon. and learned Friend’s first point, those are very pertinent issues that should be submitted as part of the consultation on how we can strengthen measures against…09 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019Yes, it is likely to happen. We will look at further consolidation. As the hon. Lady will know, much of the thrust of policy coming out of the Department has been to create…27 Jun 2019HANSARDDraft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019. The regulations were laid before the House…27 Jun 2019HANSARDDraft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019I can confirm that we will be doing so, and I will come to the details shortly. We are making changes to make it easier for local authorities to introduce the levy. Currently,…27 Jun 2019HANSARDDraft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019I am grateful to Members for their detailed consideration of the regulations. I will attempt to address the various points that have been raised on what I admit is a fairly long…27 Jun 2019HANSARDDraft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019As I am sure my hon. Friend knows, there are controls within the local authority environment, such as the section 151 officer and, of course, the district audit function, which…27 Jun 2019HANSARDLicensing Act 2003: Communities and Local Planning PolicyThe hon. Gentleman, typically, raises an extremely important issue. As he will know, the proliferation of single-use plastics—or, indeed, the restriction thereof—is a matter for…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is quite right: one of the problems with housing development in the past in this country is that we have tended to build the houses first and cope with the…17 Jun 2019HANSARDLicensing Act 2003: Communities and Local Planning PolicyI am in daily receipt of advice from colleagues from across the Government—indeed, from across the House, local government and the nation—on the efficient and effective operation…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend raises an interesting point. He will understand that I cannot comment on specific planning applications, but he is right to identify that local communities often…17 Jun 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsForgive the love-in, Mr Speaker, but my hon. Friend is a constant and persistent champion for his constituents in the many beautiful villages that he represents. He is quite right…17 Jun 2019