Clause 147

Planning Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:15 pm on 29 January 2008.

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Development plan documents: climate change policies

Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Photo of Jacqui Lait Jacqui Lait Shadow Minister, Communities and Local Government

We have raised on a number of occasions the importance of flood defence and the need to take it into account in future planning. On major projects and locally, we are at considerable risk from flooding, as we have seen this summer and again more recently, and much of the problem has been caused because the drainage system has not been able to cope sufficiently. Although Committee members will take it as read that sufficient precautions should be taken in all future plans to ensure that our drainage systems are adequate, given the importance of the perceived threat from flooding, it would be useful and sensible for the Bill to include references to flood defence and drainage. Would the Government be prepared to do that at this stage?

Photo of Parmjit Dhanda Parmjit Dhanda Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government

I appreciate the hon. Lady’s question, not least because I am the Member of Parliament for Gloucester, but I do not think that adding such a provision to clause 147 would be pertinent, especially when a great deal of work is taking place, led largely by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, who works hard on the issue of flooding. At the same time, policy is evolving around the Pitt review. Clause 147 is important, not least because of its reference to a planning policy statement on climate change. Although I take the hon. Lady’s comments on board, it would not be pertinent to include such a provision in the clause, which I hope will stand part of the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 147 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 148 and 149 ordered to stand part of the Bill.