Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Michael Fallon and Andrew Bingham

Monday 12th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sir Michael Fallon]

The United States itself will be leading one of the four forward battalions next year. It will be leading the battalion in Poland, and we will be adding a company of our own troops to that battalion. We, as the hon. Gentleman said, will be leading in Estonia, and Canada and Germany will be leading in the other two countries. We have absolutely no evidence at the moment that the United States is going to alter its position on that; on the contrary, I have been over the Atlantic twice in the past three weeks, and from my discussions with the US military and with Senators and Congressmen who take an interest in defence, I have every reason to believe that the United States will confirm its commitment to the alliance.

[Andrew Bingham (High Peak) (Con)]

2. What progress his Department has made on protecting the armed forces from persistent legal claims.

Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Debate between Michael Fallon and Andrew Bingham

Tuesday 23rd April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

The applicant will have to send a letter to the local authority notifying it of the proposal and enclosing plans, which will of course have to receive building control consent. There will be a full notification, but it will not go through the normal planning regime process.

[Andrew Bingham (High Peak) (Con)]

I welcome the change in the present position. The Minister mentioned loss of amenity. Would building materials constitute that? Would, for example, the construction of a breeze-block building represent a loss of amenity?

[Michael Fallon]

If it affected the amenity of the neighbour, that might well be an issue. It is hard for me to speculate on exactly what kind of amenity would be affected by a breeze block, but if a neighbour felt that it was having an effect, that neighbour would be able to object.

We have listened to the concerns that have been expressed, and have responded directly to them. I hope that I have explained to the House how our amendment addresses, in particular, the concern about the impact of our proposals on neighbours.