My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, for creating this second opportunity to look at some of the complex, wide-ranging issues raised in the National Planning Policy Framework. I was impressed by her saying how important it was to have a positive planning statement and...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, for creating this second opportunity to look at some of the complex, wide-ranging issues raised in the National Planning Policy Framework. I was impressed by her saying how important it was to have a positive planning statement and...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Rooker for having created the opportunity for this debate. As noble Lords can imagine, as a planning Minister he was a rather difficult act to follow. For a long time, people were obviously disappointed that I was not my noble...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Rooker for having created the opportunity for this debate. As noble Lords can imagine, as a planning Minister he was a rather difficult act to follow. For a long time, people were obviously disappointed that I was not my noble...

My Lords, the noble Lord, as usual, has been very assiduous in his amendments. I am grateful to him for tabling, in particular, Amendment 147FK. I declare an interest as chair of English Heritage. The noble Lord asked the Minister what would be included in the list of bodies referred...

My Lords, the noble Lord, as usual, has been very assiduous in his amendments. I am grateful to him for tabling, in particular, Amendment 147FK. I declare an interest as chair of English Heritage. The noble Lord asked the Minister what would be included in the list of bodies referred...

My Lords, requiring local authorities to go through this process is completely inimical to the idea of localism. As I understand it, the Government’s policy is to reduce burdens on local authorities, but I do not know whether the problem that is being addressed is a political problem—we understand why...

My Lords, requiring local authorities to go through this process is completely inimical to the idea of localism. As I understand it, the Government’s policy is to reduce burdens on local authorities, but I do not know whether the problem that is being addressed is a political problem—we understand why...

My Lords, I completely agree with the noble Lord. I think that was a very eloquent exposition of the Government’s dilemma. The Minister addressed the amendment’s frailties in its language and definition, but perhaps the Government could be persuaded to agree in principle that there should be a definition of...

My Lords, I completely agree with the noble Lord. I think that was a very eloquent exposition of the Government’s dilemma. The Minister addressed the amendment’s frailties in its language and definition, but perhaps the Government could be persuaded to agree in principle that there should be a definition of...

This may be the only time we get a chance to discuss the NPPF. I understand that guidance on the NPPF is being prepared. It will be very important because the NPPF is a reduction of principle and it is vital that local authorities in particular understand exactly what they...

This may be the only time we get a chance to discuss the NPPF. I understand that guidance on the NPPF is being prepared. It will be very important because the NPPF is a reduction of principle and it is vital that local authorities in particular understand exactly what they...

My Lords, this is not the point. We agree that regional spatial strategies should not be revisited; we are not challenging that point. The point is that there is a gap in the ability of local authorities to develop and implement the policies that they have already agreed, because the...

My Lords, this is not the point. We agree that regional spatial strategies should not be revisited; we are not challenging that point. The point is that there is a gap in the ability of local authorities to develop and implement the policies that they have already agreed, because the...

My Lords, this is a very important amendment and it is supported by other organisations as well as the RTPI. I hope that the Government will take this in the spirit in which it is intended. I believe that this is an oversight, in fact, and one which, unless it...

My Lords, this is a very important amendment and it is supported by other organisations as well as the RTPI. I hope that the Government will take this in the spirit in which it is intended. I believe that this is an oversight, in fact, and one which, unless it...

My Lords, I am very happy to support the amendment and to follow the noble Lord in much of what he said. Amendment 147FC is very important. I feel a bit like a sinner saved, because I remember the many arguments that I marshalled in relation to the 2008 Act...

My Lords, I am very happy to support the amendment and to follow the noble Lord in much of what he said. Amendment 147FC is very important. I feel a bit like a sinner saved, because I remember the many arguments that I marshalled in relation to the 2008 Act...

Since the Minister raises that point, my argument would be that the conservation of historic buildings is a central expression of sustainability. Sustainability in terms of our historic environment serves a wider purpose and does not back up the case that the Minister would want to make.

Since the Minister raises that point, my argument would be that the conservation of historic buildings is a central expression of sustainability. Sustainability in terms of our historic environment serves a wider purpose and does not back up the case that the Minister would want to make.

I will not get into that issue, with respect, because we have had some long debates both in regard to the Bill and the subsequent orders. I assure the Committee that while the Bill allows local authorities the option of inviting non-local authority members onto the EPB, for example, there...

I will not get into that issue, with respect, because we have had some long debates both in regard to the Bill and the subsequent orders. I assure the Committee that while the Bill allows local authorities the option of inviting non-local authority members onto the EPB, for example, there...

I have given examples of the kinds of things we can legitimately expect—for example, new skills funding. I shall come back to the noble Lord on that. This is very much work in progress and a lot will depend on what the EPBs themselves feel they want, whether it is...

I have given examples of the kinds of things we can legitimately expect—for example, new skills funding. I shall come back to the noble Lord on that. This is very much work in progress and a lot will depend on what the EPBs themselves feel they want, whether it is...

I shall have to write to the noble Lord about what stage ITAs are at. I am not sufficiently well sighted on this to know the answer, but I will write to him with pleasure before Report. The transfer of statutory powers will depend on exactly what we are talking...

I shall have to write to the noble Lord about what stage ITAs are at. I am not sufficiently well sighted on this to know the answer, but I will write to him with pleasure before Report. The transfer of statutory powers will depend on exactly what we are talking...

No.

No.

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, for not moving her amendments so that we can avoid a repetitious debate. It is very sporting of her. On Amendment 178A, the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, asked me a specific question taking me back to comment on what the noble...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, for not moving her amendments so that we can avoid a repetitious debate. It is very sporting of her. On Amendment 178A, the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, asked me a specific question taking me back to comment on what the noble...

Perhaps I may first respond to that point, which I can clarify. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising it and I can see why she has done so. The formulation that no one has a right to be heard comes directly from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase...

Perhaps I may first respond to that point, which I can clarify. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising it and I can see why she has done so. The formulation that no one has a right to be heard comes directly from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase...

I turn first to the review of the regional strategy. I am pleased to see my noble friend in such good health and good voice, and to see the national parks represented again in the Bill. With regard to the timing of the reviews, Clause 68 requires the regional authorities...

I turn first to the review of the regional strategy. I am pleased to see my noble friend in such good health and good voice, and to see the national parks represented again in the Bill. With regard to the timing of the reviews, Clause 68 requires the regional authorities...

I shall address, first, the amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. I am relieved to find that it is a probing amendment. I thought he was teasing me, but it is a perfectly respectable amendment and I shall be happy to answer it as best I can. Bearing...

I shall address, first, the amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. I am relieved to find that it is a probing amendment. I thought he was teasing me, but it is a perfectly respectable amendment and I shall be happy to answer it as best I can. Bearing...

The opposition amendments provide for each RDA to have the power to delegate any of their functions to a local authority or group of local authorities in the region. If the amendment were accepted, it would mean that any RDA function could be delegated to a local authority or group...

The opposition amendments provide for each RDA to have the power to delegate any of their functions to a local authority or group of local authorities in the region. If the amendment were accepted, it would mean that any RDA function could be delegated to a local authority or group...

I am happy to give the noble Baroness as much information as I can. I will do that in writing; when I do that I can also update her on the arrangements already in train for the leaders’ board in that region. A letter is on its way to noble...

I am happy to give the noble Baroness as much information as I can. I will do that in writing; when I do that I can also update her on the arrangements already in train for the leaders’ board in that region. A letter is on its way to noble...