Clause 2 - Contents of building regulations
Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill
10:45 am
Ms Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour)
I was not quite prepared for such a far-reaching debate. I can tell the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet that in the 17 years that I have been in the House I have never kept out a private Member's Bill. I have no intention of preventing the Bill of the hon. Member for Hazel Grove from reaching the statute book. It is important that we make progress, and I am conscious of time.
Our debate has ranged from Prince Charles to GM to CAMRA and so on. Our discussion has been not least about beauty, and I take the point that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As the mover of the amendment, I have the final say on the subject, and Stoke-on-Trent, North with its wonderful
architectural and industrial heritage is the last word on the subject of beauty.
On the amendment, I have listened carefully to the Minister and the hon. Member for Hazel Grove. I do not see why we could not have further dialogue on the issue as the Bill makes its way through this place and the Lords. I hope that there will be an opportunity for dialogue that will include the hon. Gentleman and the Government, and possibly English Heritage and myself. As the hon. Member for Ceredigion suggested, we are moving towards a new definition of beauty, which is always in the eye of the beholder, in terms of how it relates to new technologies and concepts of sustainability. Certainly, when considering the future of the House and the changes needed in terms of building regulations, we have found that there the whole concept of sustainability is, as yet, unexplored by English Heritage. If my amendment takes that further forward, I will be content. On that basis, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendments made: No. 4, in
clause 2, page 3, line 26, leave out from 'part),' to end of line 33 and insert
'this section applies, with any necessary modifications, in relation to the making of a change of occupants as it applies in relation to the carrying out of work.''.'.
No. 5, in
clause 2, page 3, line 33, at end insert—
'(8) In section 45(1) of that Act (application to United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority), for ''(10)'' substitute ''(11)''.'.—[Mr. Stunell.]
Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.