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Planning (Application to the Houses of Parliament) Order 2006

My Lords, I am very grateful for the warm welcome that noble Lords have given to the order. I am very pleased that they found the explanation so lucid. I am even more relieved that they have not asked me to explain some of the historic antecedents of the notion of Crown lands and Crown interests. I find it interesting that this building, with its Tudor roots, which continue in the Robing Room as opposed to the working part of the Palace, has over time served different purposes. Noble Lords are right to say that this is a historic day. This is a Grade 1 listed building; it could not be otherwise. Bringing it within the planning system proper, I presume, means, for example, that English Heritage is the statutory consultee. While it was in the voluntary regime, English Heritage would always have been consulted, but now the provisions require that. In fact, nothing about the process will change, for the reasons I have explained. The planning process in the voluntary system was virtually identical. On the conflict of interest in this unique situation—I think the noble Baroness is teasing me—I am sure there is none, although ostensibly one could view the Secretary of State as somehow having some sort of relationship with the building. But I am assured that that would not be so. When I read my own words and think more about what noble Lords have asked me, if I find that I am wrong in any of those respects, I will of course put the record right. In the mean time, I commend the order to the House. On Question, Motion agreed to.