The Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, is launching a public consultation on a draft National Policy Statement for ports in England and Wales.

The National Policy Statement forms a key element of the Government's programme to deliver the reforms to the planning system included in last year's Planning Act. The aim is to make the planning system more responsive to challenges, more streamlined and more accountable.

The draft National Policy Statement for ports sets out the broad need for ports capacity looking ahead to 2030 and beyond. It takes forecasts for port freight demand and the local economic benefits of port activity into account. It reinstates the Government's longstanding policy that this need can be best met by a competitive ports industry operating in a free market environment.

The public consultation invites views on the extent to which this National Policy Statement provides a suitable framework for the Infrastructure Planning Commission about consents for new port developments.

Click here to access the consultation.

Consultees are also invited to participate in consultation events to be organised by the Department in London, Leeds and Cardiff.

The consultation closes on 15 February 2010.