Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:03 pm on 6 January 2010.
Barbara Keeley
The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
5:03,
6 January 2010
Yes, indeed. My local authority is currently going through its strategic planning phase, as are many local authorities-I do not know whether my hon. Friend's local authority is doing so. My local authority is considering strategic planning up to 2026. That process, as well as the normal day-to-day planning applications to which she referred, is key. There is an indication that there is a very substantial gap or lacuna in the planning process. If my hon. Friend and the hon. Gentleman can cite examples where the guidance is not working at local level, it behoves the Department to start thinking about whether a duty should be placed on local councils to consider such things.
The situation is that it will be inappropriate to carry on using converted service stations, disused cinemas or that type of building, and the new faith communities, as they settle, will not continue to be prepared to use them. It is true that we have some wonderful church buildings in our communities-there are some wonderful old churches in my Constituency-but more newly arrived faith communities deserve buildings that are useful for purpose, too.
I do not think that the Minister would have offered anything specific if he had responded to the debate, so my hon. Friend makes a very sensible suggestion. I am quite prepared, as if this were a pre-recess Adjournment Debate, to take her point away and to facilitate a meeting for her.
Question put and agreed to.
House adj ourned.
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