Planning Bill

My Lords, in Committee I spoke in support of the amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Howarth. Since this is the first time I have spoken on Report, I declare a variety of interests in heritage organisations; I was formerly chairman of the National Trust and so on. There is not much more to be said in argument than the noble Lord, Lord Howarth, so comprehensively and devastatingly said in just a few minutes flat. The Minister was extremely good to the noble Lord, Lord Judd, and me in helping us out with national parks. In terms of the Bill, that was probably a simpler issue because it is was not national parks or planning authorities but, by the same token, I hope that the Minister will see her way to giving—however it is done in the Bill—equivalent status and protection to heritage assets.