Sustainable Communities Bill

That shows my hon. Friend’s commitment to the localist agenda. My hon. Friend talked about the difficulties faced by small shops. Although it is true that both the British Retail Consortium and the Federation of Small Businesses recognised in their responses to consultation on the Bill the importance of planning law to the protection of small shops, ultimately consumer choice determines a shop’s success, or otherwise. I was grateful that the Federation of Small Businesses and, to a lesser extent, the British Retail Consortium, drew attention to the fact that one of the Government’s major achievements in planning policy and devolution has been to put an end to the growth of out-of-town shopping centres. In my area, the Trafford centre, which was opposed by all local authorities of all political parties, went ahead nevertheless. That is no longer possible under our policy. IKEA, which I think is in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne)—