Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the future of ports and wharfs as key infrastructure in delivering the supply chain for the Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Industrial Strategy recognises the importance of ports to the UK economy by their inclusion as a foundational industry, essential to enabling growth in the strategy’s eight sectors through providing critical inputs and infrastructure.

The UK’s ports industry is largely privately owned and operated, with government’s role primarily to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment supports efficient operation and investment. The Government is streamlining planning and regulatory processes for ports, including by updating the National Policy Statement for Ports. The Government is also committed to investing in road and rail connections to ports to improve the efficient and cost-effective transportation of goods and passengers.

In addition, the Government is working closely with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator on fundamental reforms to the grid connections process that will release up to 500GW of capacity from the connections queue. This may enable ports to electrify more quickly where capacity is released in port locations.

Finally, the Government is deploying capital at scale through the National Wealth Fund, with ports being one of the five sectors to which it has committed at least £5.8 billion.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to local planning authority agendas with regard to house building upon companies directly linked to the Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes over this Parliament and delivering our modern Industrial Strategy.

Reforming the planning system is key to delivering on both of these commitments. The revised National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth, having regard to the national Industrial Strategy and any relevant Local Industrial Strategies. We will ensure that the planning system supports growth in our eight priority sectors, as reflected in the revised Framework. This prioritisation will be further embedded when we consult on a set of national policies for decision-making before the end of the year.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure – including infrastructure relevant to delivering the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

The Government engages regularly with relevant stakeholders to understand and monitor the impacts of our proposed reforms.

Found: Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Lucas; Baroness Neville-Jones; Baroness Northover

Found: Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Lucas; Baroness Neville-Jones; Baroness Northover

Found: Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Borwick; Lord Lucas; Baroness Neuberger; Baroness Neville-Jones; Baroness Northover