Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Indeed. I look forward to seeing how Hansard tidies up that exchange. As the shadow Minister said, amendment 148 would prevent chalk streams and blanket bogs from being an…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)On that I point, as I have said, the Bill sets out that SDSs “must be designed to secure that the use and development of land in the strategy area contribute to the mitigation of,…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for clearly setting out his intent. Again, I preface my remarks by saying that, given the strength of feeling that has been expressed this afternoon, I…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I will start by responding to amendment 124 moved by the hon Member for Taunton and Wellington. I will then speak to clause 47 stand part, Government amendment 48 and schedule 3.…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)In that case, I will sit down.14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Did we hear about the other amendment, Mrs Hobhouse?14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I take on board the strength of feeling that has been expressed. As with all the debates we are having, I will reflect on the arguments that hon. Members have made. However, we do…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)May I press the hon. Lady, so that I understand her carefully made point? A draft SDS will be published and it will be a requirement, under clause 12H, that the strategic planning…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)This is an important point, and perhaps some of the confusion arises from the stages of the process. Let me draw his attention to proposed new section 12K(2) of the Planning and…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Excellent. I wanted to make sure, given previous confusion on other clauses. Before I speak to clauses 48 and 49 and respond to the points made, I hope you will indulge me…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I do not think I could have been any clearer that the Government are reflecting on the OEP’s letter and the points it has set out. I will not issue the Government response to that…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I thank members of the Committee for so eloquently outlining the intent of these amendments. I will first deal with amendments 1 and 30. I very much accept the positive intent of…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Once again, I understand the positive intent of the hon. Member for North Herefordshire’s amendment. Of course, improving air quality is a highly important issue in many parts of…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I will continue then and turn to amendment 148.14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)Let me begin with amendment 76, tabled by the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, which seeks to remove provision for the establishment of strategic planning boards…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I am more than happy, in the interests of time, to set out what the Government are doing on this agenda through ministerial colleagues, but I return to this fundamental point:…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Just to clarify, for Hansard more than anything, I laughed only at the shadow Minister’s delivery of the term “blanket bog”. I was not in any way questioning the importance of…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)Because it was a completely arbitrary number that bore no relation to objectively assessed housing need. We have replaced it with a standard method and with targets under which…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)An important point to make is that, through the revised standard method for assessing housing need and the housing targets that flow from that, we are asking local authorities to…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Let me take each of the amendments in turn, beginning with amendment 88. I fully agree that it is essential to consider and identify infrastructure needs when planning for new…14 May 2025