Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Excerpts

Thursday 10th June 2010 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park) (Con)]

1. If he will bring forward proposals to increase the powers of local authorities to prevent infill and garden development.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

Further to the coalition agreement—

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Pickles]

Further to the coalition agreement, the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), who has responsibilities for decentralisation and planning, gave notice to the House that we are changing planning guidance and that we have taken back gardens out of the definition of brownfield land. In addition, we have removed density requirements. The matter is now for local people to decide.

[Zac Goldsmith]

I should like to take this opportunity to congratulate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on his welcome return to the Communities and Local Government brief. I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Minister, not only for his recent work in developing the Government’s ambitious low-carbon economy programme, but for his long-term battle to give communities the power they need to stand up for themselves against inappropriate development.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for his answer, but will he reassure the House and my constituents that he intends to repeal perverse rules that prevent local councillors from standing up for their constituents—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry, but I must now cut off the hon. Gentleman. From now on, questions and answers must be briefer.