Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill – in the House of Commons at 8:45 pm on 6 April 2005.
Alun Michael
Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I beg to move, That this House
agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.
I shall be brief, because the amendment refers to issues that were raised by right hon. and hon. Members during the latter stages of our discussion in this House and by peers who raised a number of issues in another place.
The amendment delivers the intention that has always existed in the Bill that no one should sell vehicles on a road, but it clarifies the situation at a junction where there might be four roads, or even more at a complicated junction, and ensures that the fact that a provision refers to "a road" cannot be used to avoid the intention of the Bill.
I am grateful to Members of the other place who raised the matter and enabled my noble Friend Lord Whitty to move an amendment. With those few words, I commend the Lords amendment to the House.
Anne McIntosh
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Shadow Minister (Transport)
I join the Minister in paying tribute to Members of the other place. The amendment seems to be eminently appropriate and recognises a gap in the Bill that we did not have the opportunity to discuss in Committee. We agree with the amendment, which was discussed and analysed in the other place.
Mr Richard Allan
Shadow Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Cabinet Office, Shadow Spokesperson (Business, Innovation and Skills), Shadow Spokesperson (Trade and Industry)
We are keen to see the Bill on the statute book because it includes some important environmental protection measures. Its passage was a little dubious earlier, but it now seems that it will get there tonight. The Minister said that the Government are happy to accept the amendment, and we too support it. My hon. Friends also pointed out the problem, and I am sure that the residents of Seven Dials, Covent Garden and similar places with complex junctions with many roads will be pleased to know that there will be no loophole. The sort of people who sell vehicles from the road look for a loophole, and it is important that we plug it with the amendment.
Alun Michael
Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I celebrate the agreement on the amendment. This is an important Bill which will play an important part in creating clean neighbourhoods. I am delighted that despite the imminence of an election we can agree.
Lords amendment agreed to.
