Contributions
2,441 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPlanning 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)The shadow Minister says he knows, but in a sense the legislative underpinning that we have looked at for this measure, and the most obvious and comparable example, is the London…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)I will make a couple of points in response to the hon. Gentleman’s comments. I understand his argument, but I go back to the point that what we are doing in this clause and others…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)As I have already said, I will not speak about two individual decisions that have been made. However, I say to the hon. Gentleman that the concern that he outlines—that is, a…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)Amendments 29, 73, 17, 74 and 94 would introduce additional requirements for spatial development strategies in relation to housing. They seek to specify or describe what spatial…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for that challenge. On this whole group of amendments, whether they have been tabled on the basis of a misunderstanding of spatial development…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank members of the Committee for these amendments. I hope I can give them some reassurance that none of them is necessary from the Government’s point of view. I turn first to…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)No, I think the hon. Gentleman is mistaken. As I have said, proposed new section 12D(4)(b), as drafted, enables spatial development strategies to describe infrastructure for both…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)Before I start, let me make a point that I think has been well conveyed, but that I will make again for the sake of clarity: I hope that Opposition Members who have dealt with me…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I think I do, and I am happy to expand on the point. What I have been trying to convey is that local nature recovery strategies are a new system of spatial strategies for nature…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)It is a pleasure to resume our proceedings with you in the Chair, Dr Huq. I thank the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington for tabling amendment 21, but the Government will have…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for that point. We will come on to discuss our approach to development and the environment more generally when we reach part 3 of the Bill. In response…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)I will address a couple of points to give the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington some reassurance. First, I very much welcome his support for the reintroduction of…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)Thank you for that clarification, Dr Huq; we may hear further from the hon. Gentleman on that point. Just to be clear, the Government are driving for universal coverage for…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)I am not concerned, for the reasons set out in the “Brownfield Passport” working paper, which I encourage the hon. Gentleman to go away and read, if he has not had the chance to…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Eighth sitting)In introducing the nature restoration fund, we have been clear that the new approach will be expert-led and ecologically sound. The Government recognise that environmental…14 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Seventh sitting)Over time, spatial development strategies will have to reflect the appropriate geographies at the point they are renewed and refreshed—if that answers the hon. Gentleman’s point.…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 (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 50, in clause 46, page 61, line 39, at end insert— “(7) Sections 319ZZC and 319ZZD and this section apply in relation to a relevant planning function…13 May 2025HANSARDPlanning and Infrastructure Bill (Fifth sitting)Clause 26 will allow National Highways to handle the majority of the administrative actions for creating or changing the status of a trunk road. As I am sure all Committee members…13 May 2025