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Planning Bill

My Lords, I detect some welcome for our amendment but noble Lords have displayed in their extensive forensic examination just why charity law and this clause are so complex. If noble Lords will forgive me, given the hour and the questions which have been raised which are both technical and definitional and explore the relationships between these subsections, I will write a comprehensive letter and pick up everything that noble Lords have said as soon as possible. I hoped I had reassured the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, when I began this debate some time ago. The question of cathedrals was to be raised by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. I can reassure my noble friend that we intend to ensure that the development by the Church of England of its cathedrals will be 100 per cent exempt from CIL. We need to investigate further how that will be achieved. Our current view is that an exemption could be provided for by using the powers in subsection (2). If that is wrong, other powers to make exemptions exist to allow us to do this, for example in Clause 214(1)(c). I hope that at least gives some clarity. Many important points have been raised and I appreciate the feeling of the House. I am grateful to noble Lords who understand that we have wrestled with trying to put something in the Bill which actually meets the concerns that have been raised. I can see that noble Lords remain concerned that the amendment I have brought forward may not offer the degree of clarity they seek. With that in mind I will reflect on the issues and see whether I can propose further changes that might reassure the House. In the mean time, I shall write to noble Lords on the specific points of detail. Indeed, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have tried to help us resolve these real difficulties.