Sustainable Communities Bill

I echo the many congratulations to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Hurd). As we noted in Committee, any Bill that brings me and the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) to the same side of a debate is remarkable. [Interruption.] Speaking as a Privy Councillor, I hope that Her Majesty will not commission a report on the question why bearded Members fail in the ballot. In thanking the Minister for his co-operation, I want to make one point. Although we took considerable comfort from his remarks about the transfer of functions, we want carefully to examine precisely what he said when we read Hansard. We also want to investigate whether the intent of new clause 6(4)(b) is fully captured by his new clause 1(3). If not, I hope that we can hold discussions with either him or his successor as the Bill proceeds to another place, because it is, I hope, clear that we have a policy agreement about our objective in that all-important part of the Bill.