Localism Bill

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords who have spoken to this group of amendments for their contribution to the debate on these important issues. I thought we had an excellent debate on Report, and I am grateful to the noble Lords for their time at the meeting we had a week ago to further discuss these matters. I am happy to adhere to correct procedure, and that is to allow noble Lords to move the amendments before giving a response. The noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, referred to developments in the EU; this is developing policy and I will have to write to him on that point. Noble Lords have already explained the amendments in this group at some length, but I will briefly summarise. Amendment 87 would remove Sections 128 to 132 of the 2008 Act, which made provisions relating to the compulsory acquisition of special types of land. Amendment 88 seeks to amend Section 150 of the Act, so that it applies only in relation to land in Wales. Amendment 89 would extend the existing provisions of the Localism Bill in relation to the creation of offences in a development consent order so that offences could be created in respect of railways and off-shore development in addition to those already provided for within the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, gave the example of trespass during construction. I have listened carefully to what noble Lords have said and I agree that these matters need further consideration. These are complex issues and we will need to think on them carefully in the light of the new regime’s vanguard cases. The major infrastructure planning regime is in its infancy. The first decision has very recently been made and it will take some time to assess whether the regime is operating as intended. The noble Lord noted the Government’s existing commitments to a future review of the major infrastructure planning regime. We will listen closely to the experiences of those using the new regime for the first time, and review the effectiveness of the entire system once the new unit has been established and several varied cases have been through the process from pre-application to final decision. I can reassure noble Lords that the issues they have raised will be carefully considered in that context. I note also what noble Lords have said about further streamlining the regime. My department intends to engage the other key departments over the next 12 months in discussions on whether it might be both desirable and practical to consider a wider range of secondary consents as part of the regime than is currently the case, looking in particular at the consents prescribed under Section 150. We will be able to report our progress on this once the process has concluded. I am pleased that we have been able to have a full discussion of these matters, and I have listened to what the noble Lords have said. We will continue to consider the matters we have debated here today, both within Government and with the various bodies that have contributed to this discussion. I hope that on basis that the noble Lord will not move his amendments. Amendment 53 agreed. Clause 162 : Assured shorthold tenancies following family intervention tenancies Amendment 54 Clause 162 : Assured shorthold tenancies following family intervention tenancies Amendment 54 Moved by