Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Oliver Dowden Excerpts
Thursday 26th May 2016

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Coffey
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I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his re-election. I am sure he will have another good year of showing leadership in providing many interesting debates. I echo his words, and I look forward to the Backbench Business Committee being back in business so that many of the requests made to me today can be queued up and, in time, debated.

Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden (Hertsmere) (Con)
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In Potters Bar, there are proposals for more than 750 new houses to be built on the edge of town, but in a neighbouring local authority. Will the Deputy Leader of the House find time for us to debate the importance of the duty to co-operate in local planning processes so that planning decisions properly take into account the needs of residents in places such as Potters Bar?

Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Coffey
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My hon. Friend raises an important issue. It is important to deliver housing. There is already a duty of co-operation between councils, but I am sure he will be able to refer to that further when we discuss the neighbourhood planning and infrastructure Bill in due course.