Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Hilary Benn Excerpts

Tuesday 6th November 2012 Ministerial Corrections

The following is an extract from an exchange between the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), during the Second Reading of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill on 5 November 2012.

[Hilary Benn]

If my hon. Friend bears with me a moment, I shall come presently to precisely that point. The first question that the House must ask the Government is that if they are to propose such a fundamental change to the way in which planning decisions have been taken since 1947—that is about 60 years of local decision making—the Secretary of State must have had really strong evidence on why such a change is needed, so where is the evidence? I will make this very easy for him, and I will happily give way. Can he name one example of a so-called failing planning authority? Will he name an authority now?

[Mr Pickles]

As the right hon. Gentleman knows and, more particularly, as other Opposition Members know, I have been more than helpful to those Members who have had trouble with planning authorities and I have done my best to move things along, but I am very happy to name the worst, which is Hackney.

[Official Report, 5 November 2012, Vol. 552, c. 608-09.]

Letter of correction from Eric Pickles:

An error has been identified in the answer given to the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) on 5 November 2012.

The correct answer should have been: