Housing and Regeneration Bill

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I will pick up on one other thing that the noble Baroness, Lady Ford, said. She was talking about the appalling problem of planner availability. From my admittedly limited knowledge, anyone who is any good as a planner almost invariably switches to the private sector very quickly because the pay is better. Perhaps the tragedy of the situation is that, when dealing with very big applications, local authorities have not become accustomed to using planning consultancies but have relied on their own resources. I accept that this is always difficult for local authorities, which, particularly in the planning field, prefer to have matters under their own control. However, if they are dealing with a complex negotiation over a major development for a large number of houses and the Section 106 situation is very complex, then perhaps getting outside advice, although it may be distasteful, is better than having inadequate advice. I merely make the point. I hope that the Minister agrees that what we are saying about subsection (5) is worth while. It would not alter the substance of the Bill but it would give people a lot of assurance if the provision were included in that part. They would know what was going on in her mind, despite the warning that was given last night by my noble friend Lord Brooke.