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Planning Bill

I was happy to give way to the right hon. Gentleman. I stress that the decision-making process will be independent. The independent planning commission will be independent and robust and include experts who are renowned in their fields. That will reassure people that the decisions are being made properly. It is interesting to note that as many people say that Ministers should make the decisions as those who say that they should not. Some people claim that the planning commission will be too independent rather than not independent enough, so I look forward to that clash of ideas in the House. Some people claim that ministerial decisions—the way in which matters are tackled now—are somehow more accountable. However, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, Ministers make quasi-judicial decisions in a legal framework that can be challenged only in the courts, not by Parliament. I therefore believe that the process for the national policy statements will give us more, not less accountability.