Member

On my other amendments, I thought there was a risk that the debate would move in different directions, as it has, but I want to make it absolutely clear that we believe—and I believe—that there is an urgent need for progress on the impact of asylum hotels on local communities across this country. Consultation and local engagement are essential, and that is why we felt it was appropriate that planning consent should be required in these cases. It would also get away from what we have heard about from my noble friend Lord Banner—the fact that they are complex issues and there are different decisions being made, which makes it extremely difficult for local authorities, in particular, to understand whether it is worth their acting on behalf of their communities or not.