Government accepts that the National Policy Statements under the Planning Act 2008, which require the consideration of human rights, will have consequences for the sourcing of materials in the examination of applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. This has implications for commodities from Xinxiang made by forced labour in a prison state accused by the House of Commons of Genocide.

Nov 27, 2024 | News

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL2375):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the adequacy of the Planning Inspectorate’s capacity to consider human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials during the examination of applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects relating to energy. (HL2375)

Tabled on: 11 November 2024

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

  1. To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to review the National Policy Statements under the Planning Act 2008, which require the consideration of human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials in the examination of applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects related to energy. (HL2376)
    Tabled on: 11 November 2024

Answer:
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage:

As public authorities, HMG and the Planning Inspectorate have a duty to act in a way that is compatible with Human Rights in the exercise of their functions under the Planning Act 2008.

It is a matter for government law and policy, such as trade rules and international agreements that determine how the sourcing of materials is regulated, and the Planning Inspectorate will examine applications in a way which is compatible with such requirements. It is implicit that the holder of a Development Consent Order (DCO) will comply with the law on sourcing materials, including human rights impacts such as slavery.

On the 8th July the Chancellor committed to updating relevant National Policy Statements (NPSs) within the year. This review will target NPSs covering the types of national infrastructure which are most critical to achieving the Government’s growth and clean energy missions. This will include any NPSs that consider the human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials. Government will launch a consultation on proposed changes to these NPSs in the new year.

Date and time of answer: 25 Nov 2024 at 15:23.

===

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL2376):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to review the National Policy Statements under the Planning Act 2008, which require the consideration of human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials in the examination of applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects related to energy. (HL2376)

Tabled on: 11 November 2024

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

  1. To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the adequacy of the Planning Inspectorate’s capacity to consider human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials during the examination of applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects relating to energy. (HL2375)
    Tabled on: 11 November 2024

Answer:
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage:

As public authorities, HMG and the Planning Inspectorate have a duty to act in a way that is compatible with Human Rights in the exercise of their functions under the Planning Act 2008.

It is a matter for government law and policy, such as trade rules and international agreements that determine how the sourcing of materials is regulated, and the Planning Inspectorate will examine applications in a way which is compatible with such requirements. It is implicit that the holder of a Development Consent Order (DCO) will comply with the law on sourcing materials, including human rights impacts such as slavery.

On the 8th July the Chancellor committed to updating relevant National Policy Statements (NPSs) within the year. This review will target NPSs covering the types of national infrastructure which are most critical to achieving the Government’s growth and clean energy missions. This will include any NPSs that consider the human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials. Government will launch a consultation on proposed changes to these NPSs in the new year.

Date and time of answer: 25 Nov 2024 at 15:23.

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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