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Ports

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning) has made the following Ministerial Statement. On 29 November and 19 January, the House of Commons debated the national policy statement for ports which I laid for parliamentary approval on 24 October 2011. In the light of the satisfactory completion of that process I am pleased to inform the House that I am today designating it as a national policy statement under the provisions of Section 5(1) of the Planning Act 2008, and laying copies before you as required by Section 5(9)(b) of the same Act. The planning system is a key to the future timely development of the country’s port infrastructure. The designation of this policy statement marks a significant step forward, clarifying what is required to enable the successful major port developments that will be essential for trade and economic growth in the long term.