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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Planning Bill concessions offered | Planning Bill concessions offered |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ministers have reached an agreement with one of the main Labour rebels over the Planning Bill, undermining a potentially damaging Commons defeat. | Ministers have reached an agreement with one of the main Labour rebels over the Planning Bill, undermining a potentially damaging Commons defeat. |
| Labour rebels want ministers to have a say on whether big projects like airports are built. The Bill would hand decisions to an independent commission. | Labour rebels want ministers to have a say on whether big projects like airports are built. The Bill would hand decisions to an independent commission. |
| Ministers now say they will review the commission after two years, when they may bring back ministerial involvement. | Ministers now say they will review the commission after two years, when they may bring back ministerial involvement. |
| Rebel Clive Betts welcomed the move, although others still oppose the plans. | Rebel Clive Betts welcomed the move, although others still oppose the plans. |
| The other major concession will mean that for new nuclear power stations and airports, the government will have to pre-approve specific sites before the planning commission can grant permission for construction. | The other major concession will mean that for new nuclear power stations and airports, the government will have to pre-approve specific sites before the planning commission can grant permission for construction. |
| Compulsory purchase | Compulsory purchase |
| The rebels have also secured a promise of greater oversight by Commons select committees of the work of the Infrastructure Planning Commission. | The rebels have also secured a promise of greater oversight by Commons select committees of the work of the Infrastructure Planning Commission. |
| And the IPC will have to take account of a report by the local authority before a decision on a particular project is taken. | And the IPC will have to take account of a report by the local authority before a decision on a particular project is taken. |
| It is by far the clearest thing if the minister makes the final decision, so everyone knows where they stand John GroganLabour MP Analysis: The Planning Bill battle | |
| There will also be new rights for those individuals affected by compulsory purchase orders. | There will also be new rights for those individuals affected by compulsory purchase orders. |
| One of the leading rebels Mr Betts, who met Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday, has indicated he will not now push his amendment on the IPC to a vote in the Commons on Wednesday. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme ministers would get involved if there were issues of national security, or a "policy statement" was out of date. | He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme ministers would get involved if there were issues of national security, or a "policy statement" was out of date. |
| "But I think out of experience it could be that other circumstances arise where we will want ministerial involvement," he said. | "But I think out of experience it could be that other circumstances arise where we will want ministerial involvement," he said. |
| Henley timing | Henley timing |
| But Labour MP John Grogan says the concessions do not go far enough and could complicate matters. | |
| He has put down his own amendment to the Bill which would require ministers to take the final decision within six months of planning approval being given by the IPC. | He has put down his own amendment to the Bill which would require ministers to take the final decision within six months of planning approval being given by the IPC. |
| He added: "It is by far the clearest thing if the minister makes the final decision, so everyone knows where they stand." | |
| "This Bill will change the system for the better by making it fairer and more transparent DCLG spokesman | |
| There have been reports that as many as 60 Labour MPs were ready to rebel over the bill. If all opposition parties vote against, it would take about 34 Labour MPs to rebel to defeat the plan. | There have been reports that as many as 60 Labour MPs were ready to rebel over the bill. If all opposition parties vote against, it would take about 34 Labour MPs to rebel to defeat the plan. |
| But Mr Grogan said, as the vote was scheduled for the day before the Henley by-election, many Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs would probably not be in the Commons. | But Mr Grogan said, as the vote was scheduled for the day before the Henley by-election, many Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs would probably not be in the Commons. |
| "I don't suspect that the government's majority is in danger but I think it's important that we put up a stand because I'm sure the House of Lords will return to this later in the year." | "I don't suspect that the government's majority is in danger but I think it's important that we put up a stand because I'm sure the House of Lords will return to this later in the year." |
| For the Conservatives, Eric Pickles said the Bill would "abolish any pretence of democratic accountability". | |
| "The voice of local residents, pressure groups and elected councillors will be silenced," he said. | |
| Mark Avery, a director at the RSPB, which opposes the Bill, said the concessions "do nothing to retain democratic accountability" and added: "Rebel MPs should not allow themselves to be bought off so cheaply." | |
| But a spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said the current planning system was "fundamentally broken". | |
| "Decisions can take years, the public's voice isn't loud enough, and investment in renewable energy and transport suffers," he said. | |
| "This Bill will change the system for the better by making it fairer and more transparent." |