Written question asked by Simon Danczuk (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 November 2010. It was answered by Robert Neill (Conservative) on Monday, 29 November 2010 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Charities: Shops

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 30W, on charity shops, if he will consider the merits of introducing powers for local authorities to regulate the (a) number and (b) location of charity shops in their areas.

Answer: The Use Classes Order is concerned with the land-use impacts of development rather than the owner or occupier of the premises. The order is intended to be a deregulatory mechanism which removes unnecessary applications from the planning system because the impacts would be minimal or similar to the pre-existing development. It is not the role of the planning system to give preference to one type of retailer over another.As I outlined in my previous answer, charity shops deliver a public benefit to society. Singling them out for extra regulation and effectively banning them from opening would be a disproportionate and heavy-handed statist intervention.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 26774; 519 c473W;519 c472W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Charity Shops
Monday, 8 November 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Charities Shops
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk