Planning bill goes to the wire

Planning bill before Commons today

Monday, 02, Jun 2008 12:00

Government ministers will seek to avoid defeat in the Commons over a challenge to the planning bill.

Labour backbencher Clive Betts wants to amend the section of the bill which takes power over important national-level planning decisions away from the secretary of state.

The government wants a newly-created major infrastructure projects commission to handle the big decisions which have traditionally been made by a government minister.

Mr Betts says empowering commissioners removes ministerial accountability. An early day motion on the issue has attracted support from at least 63 Labour MPs, meaning Gordon Brown's first Commons defeat as prime minister could be a possibility.

The planning bill seeks to streamline the existing planning regime, improving the town and country planning system.

Concerns remain about the system's democratic deficit, however, with critics suggesting the public has been left out of decisions about the siting of nuclear power stations and major transport projects.