Speeches by Amos.

“I will spend a few moments on these amendments, because they concern the important oversight body, and I will speak to them together, so Committee members need not fear—I do not have five separate speeches. I know how disappointed they will be. The amendments are about an independent oversight body for Natural England.…”

“Both are possible.”

“I am grateful to the Minister for the Government’s response to the proposals. I can only restate some of the concerns we have about potential conflicts of interest in relation to Natural England administering, collecting and spending the money, and judging its own effectiveness. The fact that the Secretary of State is …”

“As always, I am grateful to the Minister for his intervention. I would argue that it is possible to carry out the actions that he described without unreasonable delay, which is what our amendment seeks. The Government cannot have it both ways: on the one hand, it is ambiguous; on the other hand, it would definitely mea…”

“I beg to move amendment 23, in clause 66, page 97, line 13, leave out “separately” and insert “to the body established under section [Independent oversight of administration of nature restoration levy]”. This amendment is consequential on NC18. This amendment would require Natural England to report to an independent ov…”

“I appreciate the Minister’s explanation. He addressed a number of the points in our amendment, including that an EDP should not be amended to reduce the amount or extent of conservation measures. He explained that in circumstances in which there is a reduction in development, there might be a need to reduce the amount …”

“We wish to press the amendment to a vote, because we believe in the right to be heard and, in general, we are highly concerned about the potential erosion of the democratic planning system by the Bill. Question put, That the amendment be made.”

“Where’s my espresso?”

“I rise to speak to amendments 90 and 91—hon. Members will be pleased to hear that I will be brief. We have significant concerns about community involvement in consultation and about many of the points that have just been made. I have more to say on all that for the next group, in which we have tabled an amendment to ma…”

“I am grateful to the Minister for correcting me on that point. He is absolutely right that there is a provision stating that consultation responses must be taken into account, but there is no duty to consult and no requirement, and it is the same for community involvement. In fact, the Bill explicitly states that there…”

“It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Hobhouse. I rise to speak to amendments 88 and 89, which together relate to spatial development strategies and their content. The important point is that spatial development strategies should provide properly for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Currently, t…”

“I beg to move amendment 120, in clause 47, page 70, leave out line 40 and insert— “(5) A strategic planning authority must prepare and consult on a statement of community involvement which provides for persons affected by the strategy to have a right to be heard at an examination.” I want to discuss participation in an…”

“I very much sympathise with the amendment. Indeed, I have air quality management areas in my constituency of Taunton and Wellington, including two that breach the lawful limits of air pollution. We desperately need the bypass for Thornfalcon and Henlade, which would solve that particular issue. In brief, I feel that th…”

“I will not give way. I need to get back to the present day, if the hon. Gentleman will forgive me. It is important to dwell not on the proposed cuts of £22 billion to capital expenditure from 2009-10 onwards that the outgoing Labour Government were proposing, but on the reality of the situation that faces people who ne…”

“I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment proposed: 123, in clause 47, page 66, line 7, at end insert— “(4A) For the purposes of subsection (4), ‘infrastructure and public services’ must include— (a) primary and secondary healthcare provision, including mental health provis…”

“I am grateful for the Minister’s response, but I remain concerned. The Bill states: “A spatial development strategy may specify or describe infrastructure the provision of which the strategic planning authority considers to be of strategic importance”. Particularly if the Government will not accept the amendment discus…”

“Does my hon. Friend agree that the Minister’s supportive comments about the delivery of infrastructure, how it will unlock housing and how it needs to come forward to do so mean that he must be lending his support to the reopening of Wellington station in my constituency, which would unlock several thousand new homes? …”

“The Committee will be delighted to hear that I will be extremely brief on this topic. Simply put, there is no provision for how often a spatial development strategy should be reviewed, and our amendment proposes that it be done annually. It may be that annually is not be the appropriate timeframe, but there should be r…”

“I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 47 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedule 3 Section 47: minor and consequential amendments Amendment made: 48, in schedule 3, page 146, line 4, at end insert— “Habitats Regulations 11A (1) Regulation 111 of the Habitats Regulation…”

“I beg to move amendment 12, in clause 48, page 83, line 2, after “to” insert “significantly”. This amendment would require that conservation measures undertaken within Environmental Delivery Plans (EDP) should significantly protect environmental features.”