To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under the provisions of the Deregulation Bill, rights of way officers have a duty to persuade objectors to a footpath deregulation order agreed by a county council to correct an error in the definitive footpath map in order to prevent an appeal to the...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under the provisions of the Deregulation Bill, rights of way officers have a duty to persuade objectors to a footpath deregulation order agreed by a county council to correct an error in the definitive footpath map in order to prevent an appeal to the...

My right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I would like to update the House on further steps we are taking to streamline the planning system, protect the environment, support economic growth and assist locally-led...

My right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I would like to update the House on further steps we are taking to streamline the planning system, protect the environment, support economic growth and assist locally-led...

I would like to update the House on further steps we are taking to streamline the planning system, protect the environment, support economic growth and assist locally-led decision-making.

Solar energy: protecting the local and global environment

Last year, the Coalition Government published...

I would like to update the House on further steps we are taking to streamline the planning system, protect the environment, support economic growth and assist locally-led decision-making.

Solar energy: protecting the local and global environment

Last year, the Coalition Government published...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 7 and 20 January (HL3615 and HL4297) and his remarks on 4 March (HL Deb, col 272), which local authorities (1) opposed reform, (2) were not opposed, and (3) expressed no opinion, in response...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 7 and 20 January (HL3615 and HL4297) and his remarks on 4 March (HL Deb, col 272), which local authorities (1) opposed reform, (2) were not opposed, and (3) expressed no opinion, in response...

Moved by

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

That this House do not insist on its Amendment 38 and do agree with the Commons in their Amendments 38A and 38B in lieu.

38: Clause 60, page 46, line 45, at end insert—

“(14) Any regulations which are made under subsection (1) shall not take effect before...

Moved by

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

That this House do not insist on its Amendment 38 and do agree with the Commons in their Amendments 38A and 38B in lieu.

38: Clause 60, page 46, line 45, at end insert—

“(14) Any regulations which are made under subsection (1) shall not take effect before...

My Lords, the Government are very clear that the review of the TV licence enforcement regime is a high priority. The overriding aim is to ensure that the system is appropriate, proportionate and fair, and that it represents the best value. This independent review, led by David Perry QC, will...

My Lords, the Government are very clear that the review of the TV licence enforcement regime is a high priority. The overriding aim is to ensure that the system is appropriate, proportionate and fair, and that it represents the best value. This independent review, led by David Perry QC, will...

My Lords, following the successful vote in your Lordships’ House a week or two ago, we are very pleased to see that the Government have accepted our important amendment to the Bill by including it in their own Motion A. What we now have before us is a cast-iron guarantee...

My Lords, following the successful vote in your Lordships’ House a week or two ago, we are very pleased to see that the Government have accepted our important amendment to the Bill by including it in their own Motion A. What we now have before us is a cast-iron guarantee...

My Lords, first, I draw attention to my interests in this matter as a former chairman of the BBC Board of Governors, the chairman of Pinewood Studios, an occasional—far too occasional—supplier of services to the BBC, and any other interests in the register.

It has been a very good experience putting...

My Lords, first, I draw attention to my interests in this matter as a former chairman of the BBC Board of Governors, the chairman of Pinewood Studios, an occasional—far too occasional—supplier of services to the BBC, and any other interests in the register.

It has been a very good experience putting...

My Lords, although the Minister tried to argue that all sides of the House were in agreement in support for the BBC, I am bound to say that the Government’s position on this issue, repeated at earlier stages of the debate in your Lordships’ House, was precisely the opposite. Had...

My Lords, although the Minister tried to argue that all sides of the House were in agreement in support for the BBC, I am bound to say that the Government’s position on this issue, repeated at earlier stages of the debate in your Lordships’ House, was precisely the opposite. Had...

My Lords, I am most grateful to noble Lords who have spoken in this debate and indeed a number of other noble Lords who I have engaged with on this issue. We have, both in the Chamber and outside, had some very useful and constructive discussions. I am particularly grateful...

My Lords, I am most grateful to noble Lords who have spoken in this debate and indeed a number of other noble Lords who I have engaged with on this issue. We have, both in the Chamber and outside, had some very useful and constructive discussions. I am particularly grateful...

Lords consideration of Commons amendments. Agreed to on question.

Lords consideration of Commons amendments. Agreed to on question.

I want briefly to outline why the Government have introduced amendments in lieu of Lords amendment 38.

A television licence is required to watch all live or nearly-live broadcast television content on any device in the UK. People should not seek to evade this and there needs to be an effective...

I want briefly to outline why the Government have introduced amendments in lieu of Lords amendment 38.

A television licence is required to watch all live or nearly-live broadcast television content on any device in the UK. People should not seek to evade this and there needs to be an effective...

Anybody would think, from the way the Minister just presented his case, that this has been a smooth path and everything the Government intended from the very beginning. But there was only an amendment relating to the licence fee at all because of a Government Back-Bencher, the hon. Member for...

Anybody would think, from the way the Minister just presented his case, that this has been a smooth path and everything the Government intended from the very beginning. But there was only an amendment relating to the licence fee at all because of a Government Back-Bencher, the hon. Member for...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Of course. I cannot think of anyone to whom I would want to give way more.

Of course. I cannot think of anyone to whom I would want to give way more.

The lack of any other options on the Government Benches may have something to do with that. I hope that the hon. Gentleman does not mistake the broad support on the Government Benches for a different and less stringent sanctions regime for support for the TV licence. I very much...

The lack of any other options on the Government Benches may have something to do with that. I hope that the hon. Gentleman does not mistake the broad support on the Government Benches for a different and less stringent sanctions regime for support for the TV licence. I very much...

I did not give way to the hon. Gentleman faute de mieux. He is right in what he says, and some Opposition Members are as passionate in their support for the licence fee as he is, as I am or as Tony Hall is but who want a change to...

I did not give way to the hon. Gentleman faute de mieux. He is right in what he says, and some Opposition Members are as passionate in their support for the licence fee as he is, as I am or as Tony Hall is but who want a change to...