Planning Bill

I thank the noble Baroness, and noble Lords who have supported my three amendments. I am encouraged by support on all sides to push on with our aims. I still fail to understand the Government’s reticence, and why they seem to need their permissive regime. As the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, said, such are charity law and the powers of the Charity Commission that there is no more fear that a full exemption from CIL will be abused than any other tax exemption already available to charities. I strongly endorse what the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, says: we must get rid of doubt. I could not agree more. The Minister expresses her support for our general aims, but I am afraid that I still cannot see why, for the avoidance of doubt, we cannot have a straightforward exemption for registered charities in the Bill. I have no doubt that we will return to this on Report. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 436C and 437 not moved.]