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Planning Bill

Lords amendment No. 160 was introduced on Third Reading in another place. It would put in place a new procedure for the Lords' role in secondary legislation. As such, it would create a precedent in the constitutional relations between this House and the other place. It is not appropriate to make such changes and precedents, which could affect other forms of secondary legislation, at the tail end of a Planning Bill. I return to the principal point: the provision is on a financial issue that should rightly be a matter for this elected House of Commons. Since the Bill's publication, the provision has been that there would be an affirmative procedure for the CIL regulations. That provision was not subject to any proposed amendment in any of its stages in this House. It is not appropriate to make the change now, and therefore if Opposition hon. Members press Lords amendment No. 160 to a Division, I encourage my hon. Friends to reject it. Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in the said amendment:— The House divided: Ayes 275, Noes 204.