Ms Maria Graham:

The fundamental purpose of planning legislation is to support a system that is transparent and in which people have confidence. We actually have one of the most open planning systems, with the broadest third party engagement in Europe. That fundamental architecture, and those fundamental parts of planning being done in a transparent way, with an independent board, with OPR oversight of the development plans and with elected members having a key role in those plans, is at the heart of the planning system. In looking at the Act, we want to ensure we are supporting that, that it will be fit for the modern era and that, as I described earlier, the parts that are unclear or that need to be modernised will be addressed. We all have a common interest in ensuring the legislation will be fit for purpose to underpin that planning system. There have been a number of references to what we have learned over time, such as from the Mahon tribunal, which delivered the OPR as one of the key measures, and a great deal of legislation has come as part of that. That is an important part of the review.