Ms Helen McHenry:

We participated in the statutory consultation in June on the national planning framework but we have also met with the national planning framework team as part of our membership of the Regional Studies Association. We have had quite a lot of connection with them. We co-sponsored a conference with the team in September to look at spatial strategies and planning for the future. We have a great many connections with the national planning framework team in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government but we are also next door neighbours of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly which is charged with preparing the regional spatial and economic strategies which are the regional tier of the national planning framework. We met with the assembly last month to discuss how we can work together to share data and analysis. We are ready and waiting for more opportunities to have an input. We are prepared and have made all the connections on the spatial strategy.