The proposal for a national policy statement on ports: fifth report of session 2009-10 report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

House of Commons papers 217 2009-10

Corporate Author:

Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Transport Committee

Author:

Louise Ellman (chairman)

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

National Policy Statements (NPS) are a key component of the new planning system for nationally significant infrastructure projects, introduced by the Planning Act 2008. The Act stipulates that a proposal for a National Policy Statement will be subject to public consultation and allows for parliamentary scrutiny before designation as national policy by the Secretary of State. The draft Ports National Policy Statement (Department for Transport, 2009) has been welcomed by many organisations as a good start which can be built upon. The Committee has recommended a number of modifications and expects the Department will improve the draft as a result of the consultation and scrutiny processes. The Committee has reservations regarding the Government's 2007 policy for ports and the lack of guidance on location for port development in the NPS but this, of itself, does not make the NPS unfit for purpose. But the Committee cannot recommend designation at this stage on two counts. Firstly, a key, related policy statement - the National Networks NPS - has yet to be published. Secondly, the organisation likely to be one of the principal decision-makers for port development - the Marine Management Organisation - has yet to be established and so has been unable to comment on guidance that will be of great importance to its role. These are fundamental flaws in the consultation process and the Ports NPS should not be designated until they are rectified.

Extent	[2], 37, Ev 227p.	ISBN	9780215544810
Size	N/A	Price	£24.50
Format	Paperback	Published	17 Mar 2010
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