Mr. Paul Hyde:

I have a few comments. I do not disagree that the planning authorities and local authorities play a critical role in planning in this country. We share that view. In the process that has been established, the planning authorities still have a section 247 pre-application consultation with the applicants, and then one with us and the applicants. There is then the application stage, at which time the local authority has, for the third time, an input, as do elected representatives. I do not disagree that the planning authority is vital to the process. We could not complete the process without it and have a wider relationship with all of the planning authorities-----