Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Bottomley Excerpts
Wednesday 16th March 2022

(2 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Dominic Raab Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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The hon. Gentleman is talking total nonsense and I do not have anything to add to what I have already said.

Peter Bottomley Portrait Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con)
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In addition to having concerns for Ukraine, my constituents are also concerned about planning policy. I wrote to the Prime Minister in October 2019 about the threat to the Goring gap. It is against Government policy and against the public interest for every green field that is a strategic gap to be built on. An inspector has made a decision that would wipe away the planning powers of every local council in the country. May I ask whether the Prime Minister will see me and whether the Government will revoke this inspector’s mistaken decision?

Dominic Raab Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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I thank my hon. Friend for that. As someone with a massive proportion of green belt in my constituency, I empathise with the frustrations that Members from across the House feel with some planning decisions that are made. However, once a planning decision is final, it cannot be challenged unless it is successfully challenged in the courts.