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Planning Bill

If the right hon. Gentleman reads the Hansard record, he will see that I explained a moment ago that the levy will be for infrastructure that is set out in the development plan. [Hon. Members: ““Ah!””] Moving on, I heard a large number of points from a large number of contributors to this debate. We shall have ample opportunity to return to matters relating to the community infrastructure levy throughout the proceedings on the Bill. I look forward to that. The basis of the infrastructure planning commission's consideration and the centrepiece of the proposals are the national policy statements, which have been welcomed throughout the House. We have made it clear that there will be strong parliamentary scrutiny of such statements. That will strengthen their status and their scope to act as an authoritative basis for determining major infrastructure project applications. I say to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) and others that we have recommended scrutiny of the national policy statements by a new Select Committee. It will hold an inquiry and report in parallel with public consultation. The Government will consider the Committee's report and revise national policy statements where appropriate. We have also undertaken, within the rules of the House, to provide time for a debate where the Committee recommends that there are issues that merit it.