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Planning Bill

I am grateful to my noble friend, but he has reinforced the statement that I made some time ago that all these major decisions really ought to be taken finally at the political level, because they are essentially political decisions. That is what the Bill has been trying to escape from but, in the end, it cannot do it. I am particularly grateful to my noble and learned friend for his intervention, because it seems to me that we have to think carefully about this. Certainly, his advice was very helpful. I hope that when the noble Baroness takes the trouble to write, she will perhaps be able to provide a little bit of certainty after a debate that, if I may say so, has increased our uncertainty rather than resolved it. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 57 to 61 not moved.] Clause 6 agreed to. Clause 7 [Consultation and publicity]: