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National Policy Statements

I understand that, for reasons that are slightly beyond my ken, people seem to be very anxious to finish at 7 o'clock this evening rather than at the normal time of 10 o'clock. I suppose that that is something to do with the fact that we are beginning to sit rather earlier. The issue of Dibden bay, which I referred to in an intervention, is the single most important constituency issue in New Forest East in the 14 years that I have represented it. As my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Charlie Elphicke) said, it was a long time before the considerations on whether a giant container port should be built at Dibden bay produced decisive outcomes. We had a year-long public inquiry, as I said in an intervention, but we also had, as he said, several years leading up to that public inquiry. If the new procedure, first through the Infrastructure Planning Commission put forward by the previous Government and then under the replacement arrangements proposed by this Government, allowed for public consultation— The debate stood adjourned (Standing Order No. 9(3)). Ordered, That the debate be resumed tomorrow.