Schedule 1
Planning
5:30 pm
David Jones (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Wales; Clwyd West, Conservative)
I wish to speak briefly to amendment No. 60 in the name of the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy. I dare say he is correct when he says that he suspects that the Minister will say that his amendment is otiose. But that description is not entirely right. It is clear that clause 9 imposes an obligation on the Secretary of State to exercise the functions contained in clauses 5 and 6 so as to fulfil, so far as possible, the object of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. But it also seems valuable for the Secretary of State in the appointment of the commission to ensure that the commission itself also acts in connection with those principles so as to achieve that objective. It does not seem otiose to that extent. It is rather an underlining process so I therefore suggest that the amendment is desirable and should be supported.