New Clause 2
Planning-gain Supplement (Preparations) Bill
5:00 pm
John Healey (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; Wentworth, Labour)
The hon. Lady cites an example of something that is going ahead. The forms have been modified in response to representations. I repeat that it is not in our interests to spend significant resources on things that we do not intend to proceed with. That is precisely the approach that we will take with the planning gain supplement. The decision will need to be taken before beginning the detailed design work on the IT systems that would be authorised under the Bill.
My priority is to make the right decision about a workable planning gain supplement, rather than constraining that decision by statute. On that basis, I hope that the hon. Member for Rayleigh will not press the new clause to a Division. If he does, I shall ask my hon. Friends to resist.