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Planning and Energy Bill

The Bill will establish guidance—a framework, a signpost and a marker—that chimes well with what the Government are doing, what the nation seeks to achieve and what many local authorities and councils are keen to do. The hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Julia Goldsworthy) eloquently expressed that when she said that this is a permissive Bill. As we have heard, it will permit authorities such as that in Cambridge to do what they want to do. One of the crucial points is that if a local authority did not wish to implement the Bill after it becomes an Act—as I profoundly hope it will—local people would have the democratic strength to demand that it become part of that local council's policy. The Bill will empower and give freedom to people locally, whereas at present their elected representatives are constrained. That is an intensely important point. The Bill will allow the continuum of ownership to flow in the right direction—towards the people—instead of being constrained by the voice from Bristol. Traditionally in local government housing provision, the policy was predict and provide. In this case, we do not need to predict the consequences of global warming, because we can see them all around us. Only the most purblind person in full denial would attempt to justify anything other than recognition of the sickening consequences of global warming. The Bill will not only help us to provide homes fit for purpose, but will make the world a better, safer and cleaner place. The hon. Member for Sevenoaks has done the House an extraordinary service today, and he has also done the nation and the world a service. Question put and agreed to. Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.