Member

As the Government have already set out, we are not trying to remove wholesale parliamentary scrutiny or the ability of the public to engage and consult. I will take this opportunity to set out the safeguards, the process that reflective amendments will follow and the guarantees we have given in the other place. First, the Secretary of State is required to lay a Statement in Parliament announcing that a review of the national policy statement is taking place. Secondly, we will write to the relevant Select Committee at the start of the consultation period. Thirdly, Ministers will make themselves available to speak to the Select Committee during the consultation period, as far as is practicable. Fourthly, should the Select Committee publish a report within the timeframe of the public consultation period, the Government will take those views into account before the updated statement is laid before Parliament. Finally and most importantly, the NPS as amended will be required to be laid in Parliament for 21 days, during which time the House of Commons may resolve that the amendment should not be proceeded with. This means that Parliament retains the ultimate say over whether a change should be enacted.