DCLG has published the draft National Planning Policy Framework for consultation. This is a key part of their reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible, and to promote sustainable growth. DCLG is keen to hear views from all interested parties on the draft and how it might be improved.

The Hazardous Waste National Policy Statement (NPS) sets out the strategic need and justification of Government policy for the provision of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for hazardous waste. This will be used to guide decisions on development consent. The purpose of the consultation is to give stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the draft NPS and the framework it sets for those planning decisions.

This inquiry will explore whether there is a case for the adoption of consumption-based emissions reporting in the UK, whether it is feasible to do this in practice, whether emissions reduction targets might be adopted on a consumption basis, and what the implications for international negotiations on climate change might be if the UK, and others, took this approach.

Current Climate Change Agreements expire in March 2013. However, the Government announced in the 2011 Budget that “the scheme will continue until 2023, subject to State aid approval, and a consultation on simplifying the scheme will be published this summer”. This consultation therefore presents a number of proposals to deliver significant improvements in energy efficiency while reducing burdens on business including the complexity and overlap of climate change industry policy. It is estimated that the proposals set out in this consultation will provide financial benefits to business in the range of £2.4M to £3.4M during the life of the scheme.