Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of the provisions contained in the Harbours Bill.
Answer
The Government's position in respect of the Harbours Bill was set out by my noble Friend Baroness Crawley during the Second Reading debate in the House of Lords on 27 October 2005, Official Report, columns 1382–85. We support the principle of the Bill which we believe would make a useful contribution to our policy of streamlining planning, and planning related, procedures.