Clause 1 - Designation of High Streets

Part of High Streets (Designation, Review and Improvement Plan) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:45 am on 13 March 2024.

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Photo of Jo Gideon Jo Gideon Conservative, Stoke-on-Trent Central 9:45, 13 March 2024

I rise to congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South, my Constituency neighbour, on this outstanding Bill. As he and I well know, Stoke-on-Trent is a classic example of why Amendment 1 is so important, because it allows for more than three streets to be designated. Stoke-on-Trent is a city of six towns, each with its own identity and network of streets, and it is hugely important that the symbiotic relationship of streets is recognised by designating networks.

We all know that regenerating one street often attracts retailers to it, and the neighbouring street may then suffer and see shops closing. It is very important that we look at our high streets and our town and city centres holistically, and the Bill goes a long way towards doing that. I am absolutely supportive and I congratulate my hon. Friend again.

Clause

A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.

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During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.

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amendment

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constituency

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