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Planning Bill concessions offered Rebels to challenge planning bill
(about 15 hours later)
Ministers have reached an agreement with one of the main Labour rebels over the Planning Bill, undermining a potentially damaging Commons defeat. MPs will vote later on controversial proposals to speed up the planning process for big projects like airports and nuclear power stations.
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 tried to head off a Labour backbench rebellion over the idea that an independent commission will make decisions instead of a minister.
Ministers now say they will review the commission after two years, when they may bring back ministerial involvement. Critics say it is "undemocratic", but Planning Minister John Healey says the government is listening to the worries.
Rebel Clive Betts welcomed the move, although others still oppose the plans. He says the commission will be reviewed after two years to see if it's working.
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. Labour rebel Clive Betts welcomed the move, although others still oppose the plans.
Compulsory purchaseCompulsory purchase
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 in England and Wales.
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.
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 battleIt 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
And the IPC will have to take account of a report by the local authority before a decision on a particular project is taken.
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. One of the leading rebels Mr Betts, who met 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 said 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 Rebel appeal
But Labour MP John Grogan says the concessions do not go far enough and could complicate matters.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." FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
"This Bill will change the system for the better by making it fairer and more transparent DCLG spokesman "It is by far the clearest thing if the minister makes the final decision, so everyone knows where they stand," he said.
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. Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's director of conservation, urged the rebels to keep up the fight.
"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." "One of the big flaws in the Planning Bill is that the democratic process is going to be by-passed for the very biggest decisions so large planning applications, like for airports, by-passes, won't be dealt with by ministers," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
For the Conservatives, Eric Pickles said the Bill would "abolish any pretence of democratic accountability". But Mr Healey said this was wrong. "The bill infact gives a bigger job for ministers and Parliament to do, but at the front end.
"So for the first time the need for big things like, nuclear power stations or airport extensions, will be debated and discussed by government and Parliament and not left to inquiries," he told Today.
'Silenced'
"That means the commission will only make decisions within that framework and only do so in a way that gives the public a greater chance to have a say and local communities and councils who are most effected, a stronger chance to influence decisions."
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."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".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," he said.
"This Bill will change the system for the better by making it fairer and more transparent."