Employment: Market and Coastal Towns

Lord Roberts of Llandudno Excerpts

Tuesday 12th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

Yes, my Lords, and perhaps the noble Lord would like to take this up with his noble friend who asked the initial Question.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno]

My Lords, I am so glad that the noble Lord opposite has mentioned the United Kingdom. I am sure that the Question about England, although it may not embrace Wales, includes Wales. However, is it not true that the demise of many of our town centres, and of employment in the centres of market towns, is because of out-of-town shopping malls and large-scale shopping centres? What are the Government doing to regulate this move out of town, which is making the centres of our market and coastal towns most uninviting places?

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, my noble friend makes an important point. Town centres are key to sustainable growth and local prosperity and are at the heart of neighbourhoods, giving communities easier access to shops and services. However, we must be clear that town- centre planning policy is not pro or anti supermarkets, and planning cannot seek to restrict lawful competition between retailers.