Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Monday 8th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I just gave. The NPPF gives clear protection and priority to the green belt, and I encourage local authorities to respect that.

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

The Secretary of State has said that only in the most exceptional cases will fracking be allowed in national parks. Will my hon. Friend say what those exceptional circumstances will be, and that the precautionary principle will normally prevail for fracking?

[Brandon Lewis]

Any planning application must be decided on its own merits. That means that things will change from application to application, based on the merits of each individual case.