Housing and Regeneration Bill

I am most grateful for the care and attention that the Minister has given to these matters. I am afraid that journeys on London transport are not long enough certainly as regards looking at Hansard and trying better to understand what the Minister has said. That will be my homework reading when I am on the train to the north of England tomorrow evening. No doubt the other people in the carriage will all think that I am crackers. Never mind, that often happens. I am grateful for the support of the noble Baroness, Lady Ford, and of the noble Lord, Lord Dixon-Smith. I was not sure which house the noble Lord, Lord Brooke, thought Humpty Dumpty was living in, but perhaps that will become clear in due course. I am a lot happier with the wording of Clause 3 following the explanation that was given, particularly as regards the word ““appropriate””, which is clearly testable in court. That is reassuring. As regards Clause 4(6)(a) on the designated areas, I tabled the relevant amendment as a probing amendment and the matter has been duly probed. I am entirely happy with the answer that I received. We can discuss whether the HCA ought to have planning powers at all at a later stage. If it is to have them, clearly it has to operate within existing planning legislation, which differs from the objectives stated here. I am grateful for the explanation that was given on that. However, I am still bewildered by the rest of Clause 4. It seems to me that parts of it are frankly contradictory. I hope that the Minister will look again at the wording to make it easier for most people such as me who are not professional lawyers, or even for some professional lawyers, to understand. Having said that, I am very grateful indeed for the care and attention that the Minister has given these matters and for the contributions of other Members. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 3 agreed to. Clause 4 [Powers: general]: [Amendments Nos. 44 and 45 not moved.] Clause 4 agreed to. Clause 5 [Powers to provide housing or other land]: [Amendments Nos. 46 and 47 not moved.] Clause 5 agreed to. Clause 6 [Powers for regeneration, development or effective use of land]: [Amendments Nos. 48 to 49A not moved.] Clause 6 agreed to. Clause 7 [Powers in relation to infrastructure]: [Amendment No. 50 not moved.] Clause 7 agreed to.