Clause 2 - Regional planning bodies
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill
8:55 am
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold, Conservative)
I can see that you work very quickly, Mr. Pike. Even at this time of the morning, you are extremely sharp.
Clause 2 is one of the Bill's most important as it sets up the duties and functions of a regional planning body. We made progress last week, in that we learned from the Minister that the recognised bodies are, in the absence of elected regional assemblies, to be the regional chambers. Of the eight regions, three are not yet up and running, but they will be by the spring, in the words of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty). I hope that I have quoted him correctly; if not, he will no doubt put the record straight. That was one of the most important revelations of our two sittings last week, and it was very welcome. It would be useful to have the Hansard before me, so that I could check the accuracy of my quotation, but I must rely on my memory instead.
I am slightly concerned about the explanatory notes, which make it clear that, in itself, a change of membership of the recognised regional planning body would not render it invalid. What does the Minister understand by that? To take the most extreme example, if the regional planning body were to contract out all its functions, would that in itself render it derecognised? That point needs to be clarified.
Having said that, I must say that the Committee has examined the clause in huge detail and made progress.
We have much to do today, so in order that we may continue to make progress, I shall let the Minister reply.