Speeches by Murphy.

“Can I just briefly take you back to onshore wind? Its reintroduction into the NSIP process was very welcome, certainly from my point of view. Could there be any improvement in the guidance that would help avoid the same local opposition that ended up with it being banned in the first place?”

“In terms of impacts on irreplaceable habitat that cannot be mitigated or avoided, could there now be scenarios where the infrastructure could go ahead because the need and the public interest is so overwhelming?”

“We heard from the RSPB, which has given us written evidence. It said that the CMP policy could lead developers to override environmental concerns and result in the environmental impacts of developments not receiving enough scrutiny. How do you respond to that?”

“Are you saying that the streamlining has not gone far enough?”

“Moving the conversation on to network upgrades, what will the combined effect be of the presumption of consent for critical national priority projects and the endorsement of the centralised strategic network plan? What is going to be the effect of that presumption of consent?”

“Is it too early for the national policy statement to reference the strategic spatial energy plan before it is even completed? An earlier witness thought that the reference should be removed.”

“What would happen if there is a proposed development that is outside the optimal areas or above the capacity limit identified for a particular one of those zones?”

“On the first panel that we had today, there was a bit of disagreement between our witnesses about how detailed the strategic spatial energy plans will be. How detailed and specific will they be place by place?”

“In that case, how is it not contradictory, given that the national policy statements maintain a commitment to a market-based energy system? How is that to be reconciled?”

“Thank you to our witnesses for coming today. The strategic spatial energy plan marks a shift away from the market-based energy system. Would you agree?”

“I am interested in whether it is a tonal or substantive disagreement between Sam and Isobel and Jackie on the level of protection needed and the concern about what could happen to wildlife. Is it just a tonal difference?”

“It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. I want to ask the Minister a couple of questions about compulsory purchase and redevelopment and regeneration schemes. A significant regeneration scheme has been proposed in Basingstoke for the communities of South Ham and Buckskin by the housing associa…”

“I thank the hon. Member for giving way, and apologise to the rest of the Committee—I do not have a quote. Under its new leadership, his party is reflecting on the policies of the previous 14 years, so given that he is making an argument about first-time buyers and SME builders, why did the number of SME builders in the…”

“Will the hon. Gentleman give way?”

“I acknowledge that this is an important part of the Bill and that some organisations have expressed concerns about the matter. I agree with the hon. Members for North Herefordshire and for Taunton and Wellington pointing out what the OEP has said about this part of the Bill, but we should acknowledge that what the Mini…”

“The Committee should hear exactly what the Minister has said: he and the Government are reflecting on what the OEP has said. It is only seven working days since the OEP sent its letter, so to rush forward with a full response now would be foolhardy. It is right that the Government reflect on it and we should accept the…”

“I rise to speak to clause 50. The Government and the Minister deserve complete praise for their attempt to thread the needle of building more homes while protecting and restoring nature. We must recognise that the system we inherited was failing on both counts. The innovative approach outlined in this part of the Bill,…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship Mrs Hobhouse. I do not agree that this is the right place to make such an amendment to the Bill, but I agree with the hon. Member for North Herefordshire about chalk streams and I want to put on my record my appreciation for those rare and irreplaceable habitats. In Basing…”

“Thank you, Dr Huq; it is a delight to serve under your chairship. Listeners to the debate have missed out on an entertaining discussion of the procedure of voting on amendments and clauses. I rise to comment briefly to amendment 29. I do not think that anyone on the Government Benches disagrees with the notion that we …”

“Will the hon. Member give way?”