Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Huppert Excerpts

Monday 5th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD)]

T6. Does the Minister agree that we need to keep our high streets healthy and diverse and support independent shops? Will he therefore support the Cambridge amendment 153AKC, tabled by Lord Greaves, to the Localism Bill, which gives local people the power to support their high streets in that way?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)]

The health of the high street is a fundamental characteristic of a healthy community and we are strongly promoting that through the national policy planning framework—or the other way around even. We will look hard at the proposals that come from our noble Friends in the Lords and give careful consideration to them.