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Law Change


MPs Initiatives in Parliament, 1999 to Summer 2000





Lady Gardner's Hedge Control Bill in Lords | Jim Cunningham's Bill | EDM 133, Dr Lynne Jones
Hedgeline Meeting with Senior Politicians


 

Index pages


Most Recent Items Listed First
  • Hedge Control Bill Debate in Lords, 1999.

    Lady Gardner's Hedge Control Bill (a slightly revised version of Jim Cunningham's Bill, as he presented it in the House of Commons in the 1999) has now been amended at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. It now includes the definition of a hedge established in Case Law during the Stanton v. Jones Case.

    The definition

    The Bill passed its second reading in the House of Lords on 11th January. There was a lengthy debate, most sympathetic exploration of the issues involved and much wholehearted support for the Bill.

    The Text of the Bill.

    The House of Lords Debate - Hansard 11th January 1999


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  • Question and Answer in House of Lords

    The DETR has given its answer to the questions put to them, in the House of Lords, by Baroness Gardner.
    Mr Chris Mullen M.P. has given a similar answer, in the House of Commons, to similar questions put by Dr Lynne Jones MP. (April 2000)

    The Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked Her Majesty's Government,
    What number of replies were received by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by the closing date, 31st January, In response to their consultation document 'High Hedges: Possible Solutions', in support of each of the four offered options and for none of them. (HL 1814)

    The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty): - My Department received some 3,000 responses to this consultation, which we are currently analysing. We hope to make a statement, setting out our decisions on the way forward on this Issue and the reasons for them, by the summer.


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  • Written Questions in the House of Commons

    Jim Cunningham M.P. and Don Foster M.P.introduced written questions in the house on the position regarding the Consultation. The Government's reply, (28th March 2000) was that they were analysing the Consultation response, and would give the results and their decision when the process was finished.

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  • Jim Cunningham's Hedge Control Bill

    The second reading has been again postponed. The reading did not take place on 12th May. Jim Cunningham is trying for June 9th and failing that, will continue to put the Bill on Private members' day.

    Jim Cunningham's private member's bill, 'to Make Provision for Hedges to be a Statutory Nuisance', received its first reading in the 1999/2000 session of Parliament on Tuesday February 29th at 4 p.m. Jim, in his excellent speech, used fresh terminology, and found fresh approaches to, what is now, a well aired subject. The speech received a warm reception in the house.

    We would like to thank Jim Cunningham for his efforts on behalf of all hedge victims.

    This bill is a slightly revised version of the bill presented in the House of Commons at the end of the 1998/99 session of Parliament, when it finally acheived a reading, a few days before the end of the session.

    Text of This Bill.

    Jim Cunningham MP


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  • EDM 133 Introduced by Dr Lynne Jones MP, 2nd Dec 1999


    Dr. Lynne Jones, M.P. for the Selly Oak Constituency, Birmingham continues to give us invaluable help and support. This new EDM is the third she has introduced into the House of Commons in three consecutive Parliamentary sessions.(The previous EDM, number 101, gathered over 207 signatures before the end of its session - 1998/99).

    (On December 6th EDM 133 had already been signed by 199 MPs. It gathered 210 signatures by the end of its session - 1999/00).

    HIGH HEDGES

    EDM 133
    02/12/99

    That this House welcomes the publication of the Consultation Paper on high hedges, which at last holds out some hope of action to protect those whose lives have been blighted by overgrown trees and hedges; believes that measures to promote mediation and provide better information on planting and growing of leylandii, and similar fast-growing trees, have a part to play in preventing and defusing conflicts between neighbours but will be of little assistance to those already adversely affected by a high hedge; recognises the efforts already made by local authorities and the police to find solutions to these disputes, but is concerned that valuable time and resources have been unnecessarily expended tackling a problem which, ultimately, they have no power to resolve; and, therefore, supports Option 4 in the consultation paper, which proposes to set up a new system of statutory powers to deal with complaints about problem hedges.

     

     


    Dr Lynne Jones MP



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  • Meeting between Dr. Lynne Jones MP and Mr Chris Mullin MP.

    The meeting between Dr. Lynne Jones MP and Mr Chris Mullin MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the D.E.T.R., is presumed to have taken place on Tuesday 23rd November.

    Nothing is likely to be announced concerning this meeting. The official consultation is still taking place. Dr. Jones, and other MPs attending, would have been concerned with showing the strength of their support for hedge control legislation. I spoke to her PA.


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  • Meeting with Senior Politicians

    Michael Jones and Clare met Mr Damian Green MP, Shadow Environment Minister, and Mr Denys Robinson, Permanent Parliamentary Secretary for the Lib/Dem Party in the House of Commons, on Thursday 21st October. They were asked to give support to 'the legislative control of nuisance hedges', officially to condemn the growing of these hedges and possibly to table an amendment to the Queen's Speech.

    The support was taken for granted and the main subject of discussion in both meetings became the means by which controls could be imposed and and the best way the respective parties could help to bring them about.

    We also met Lynne Jones (Dr. Lynne Jones MP Selly Oak, Birmingham) for a short time and she said that the problem was now well recognised and that we were now waiting for the Goverment to find a suitable way to implement controls.
    She also said our best way of strengthening our support in Parliament, and so applying pressure for a speedier solution, was through individuals writing to their constituency MPs.


    MPs Initiatives in Parliament during previous year, 1998 to 99





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