Orders of the Day — Planning and Compensation Bill [Lords] – in the House of Commons am 11:30 pm ar 19 Mehefin 1991.
Amendments made: No. 122, in page 194, line 28, leave out 'subsection' and insert 'subsections (4) and'.
No. 36, in page 194, leave out from end of line 52 to end of line 2 on page 195 and insert `Section 63.'
No. 22, in page 195, line 3, at end insert—
`In section 69, in subsection (1) "made to that authority" and in subsection (3) "made to the authority".'
No. 50, in page 195, line 13, at end insert
`In section 186(1)(c) the words from "or for its retention" to "granted".'
No. 55, in page 196, line 4, after '71)"', insert
`in the definition of "planning permission" the words from "and in construing" to the end'
No. 17, in page 196, line 4, after '71)"', insert
`the definitions of "relevant order", "restriction on the winning and working of minerals" and "special consultations"'.
No. 18, in page 196, leave out lines 26 to 28 and insert—
`Schedule 11'.
A few words need to be said on Third Reading. The Opposition support the Bill as it ha .s been amended, but we still have grave reservations about clause 12 and the issue of unilateral undertakings, because there is, unfortunately, some scope there for innuendo and rumour when it comes to the undertakings being made.
However, our main criticism of the Bill really rests on the Government's commitment in "This Common Inheritance" to green themselves. Given the previous Secretary of State's commitment to using the planning system for the enhancement and protection of the environment, many people, both inside and outside the House, were surprised at the lack of virtually all greenery in the Bill.
It is only because of the doughty fight put up in another place by peers of all parties and by Members from both sides of the House that we have, thankfully and appreciatively, seen some major concessions by the Government on environmental issues.
Nevertheless, we have still failed to include in the Bill important measures for coastal zone planning or sustainable development or proper planning controls in agriculture and forestry. We recognise that the Government have not accepted those, but we appreciate that they moved in the right direction on all the important environmental considerations.
We are only sorry that they did not come forward in the first place in a constructive spirit with the proposals which now exist in the Bill. We need to underline the fact that it is only because of the efforts of people other than the Government that they are now there. However, we thank the Government for responding 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. along the path of the green way which is so desperately needed.