House of Commons – 26 January 2015

Dr Lewis: Will the Minister reassure my constituents in public, as the Minister of State, Department for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (John Hayes), has tried to do for me in private, that given a proposal such as the massive port development at Dibden Bay, on the edge of the New Forest, which was stopped by a year-long public inquiry, the Forest would be no less protected as a result of the Bill?

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Stephen Williams): I can repeat the reassurance –  because he has just given it to me – that my right hon. Friend the Minister gave to my hon. Friend: the Bill will provide no less protection than currently exists in the planning system.