[Mr Peter Bone in the Chair]

Before we begin, I have a few preliminary announcements. Please switch off electronic devices, or turn them to silent. Teas and coffees are not allowed as props during sittings. We will first consider the programme motion. We will then consider a motion to allow us to deliberate in private about our questions before the oral evidence session and a motion to enable the reporting of written evidence for publication. In view of the time available, I hope that we can take those matters formally, without debate.

Ordered,

That—

(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Tuesday 18 October) meet—

(a) at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 18 October;

(b) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 20 October;

(c) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 25 October;

(d) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 27 October;

(e) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 1 November;

(2) the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following Table:

Date

Time

Witness

Tuesday 18 October

Until no later than 10.30 am

British Property Federation

Federation of Master Builders

Home Builders Federation

Country Land and Business

Association

Tuesday 18 October

Until no later than 11.25 am

Local Government Association

Historic England

National Infrastructure Planning

Association

Town and Country Planning

Association

Tuesday 18 October

Until no later than 2.30 pm

National Association of Local

Councils

Royal Institute of British

Architects

Tuesday 18 October

Until no later than 3.00 pm

Locality

Campaign to Protect Rural

England

Tuesday 18 October

Until no later than 4.00 pm

Compulsory Purchase

Association

Royal Institution of Chartered

Surveyors

Law Society

Royal Town Planning Institute

Tuesday 18 October

Until no later than 4.45 pm

Department for Communities

and Local Government

(3) proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 3; Schedule 1; Clauses 4 to 7; Schedule 2; Clauses 8 to 36; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;

(4) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 1 November.

Resolved,

That, at this and any subsequent meeting at which oral evidence is to be heard, the Committee shall sit in private until the witnesses are admitted.—(Gavin Barwell.)

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Gavin Barwell.)

Copies of written evidence that the Committee receives will be made available in the Committee room. We will now go into private session to discuss lines of questioning.

The Committee deliberated in private.

Before we start hearing from the witnesses, do any Members wish to make declarations of interest?

I think I probably need to do so, because I still have shares in a company called Polity Communications, which gives advice to developers on how to get planning permission. I have in the past done work on opposing things with community groups as well.

I should mention that I employ a local authority council member in my parliamentary team.

I should draw colleagues’ attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I am a shareholder in a business that provides finance for construction projects.

I am a councillor in Oldham.

I draw the Committee’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I am the majority shareholder of a company that provides finance for construction equipment.

I employ two local authority members in my parliamentary and constituency office. For the record, I should probably also say that one of the witnesses is the leader of the council in my local area.