, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I don't think we're a 1,000 miles apart.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Okay.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Yes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Well, you can make it available—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I'm simply suggesting that if it is, as Neil suggests, current practice, then there seems to be very little reason why—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
So, why don't—? I'm just interested as to why section 59 is so unclear.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Yes, but what I'm saying is, the reason—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
So why—? But this comes back to the balance, doesn't it? It is again quite a discrete matter, it's not a matter where you need to make lists, or where things are going to change in the future and the rest of it. You know, I would anticipate that if an…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Let me finish on this, section 59. It requires reasons to be provided alongside a decision to grant or refuse consent. In your letter to us you state that you anticipate an applicant will always be provided with a statement of reasons. But that provision, of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I think your point is well made. Section 56(2) allows for the time periods for deciding an application to be extended by direction. A direction may be given more than once, and can be given after the 52-week period has ended. This requires no Senedd…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I understand that, and I think it's right and proper that public servants have the ability to work in a way that isn't becoming bogged down, if you like, in some of these issues, but at the same point, the public have to be protected and the rights of the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Yes, I understand that.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Yes, I understand that, and the Government has very well-thought-out and, I think, broadly clear rules on how it would regard a vexatious correspondent, for example, and I don't think that's ever been challenged, really; I think that's perfectly fair and…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Though I think it's right and fair that the Senedd understands what powers it's providing to Government to take those decisions. But moving on, section 55 provides another regulation-making power to enable regulations to specify matters that may be…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Absolutely, and futureproofing does provide Government with certain rights and responsibilities—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I agree with that.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
So, for example, a 5G mast, which might be contentious today, won't be contentious in a decade.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Well, wind turbines have been around for a while.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Well, I think it is. You've got a Bill dealing with it.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But infrastructure's pretty well understood, isn't it?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
That's an honest answer, at least.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I was just giving that some thought, actually. In Part 5 of the Bill, Minister, in section 52, the examining authority has the function of deciding an application for infrastructure consent for a, and I quote, 'development of a kind specified in regulations'…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I just think we need to find a way of meeting at some point.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
I can see where you're coming from and I hope you can see where I'm coming from.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Infrastructure (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
You're taking my words further than I actually intended. My purpose is to question whether that approach—. In whose interest does that approach work?
