Ms Alma Walsh:

In response to the general summary of the draft schedule of amendments, the opening statement alluded to the fact that a number of amendments are minor in nature, providing clarifications and so on. We have already touched on the inclusion of the definition of transport-orientated development as part of that. One of the main areas for which amendments have been drafted or proposed more generally relates to the strategic environmental assessment and that ongoing element of this particular area of work. Amendments are proposed for Chapter 9 to reflect on the climate challenge more generally, which will certainly be of relevance from this committee's perspective. There is a lot of strengthening of language, particularly in the national strategic outcomes included in Chapter 10, but also within Chapter 9. Further emphasis is given to the biodiversity crisis. Subsequent to the NPF going on display, we are now into the preparation of the nature restoration plan more generally and the integration and implementation of the national biodiversity action plan. The nature restoration legislation has also been enacted. There is a very specific response to that within the draft schedule of amendments in Chapter 9.

Another element to flag comes back to the discussion we have just had. It relates to acknowledging the requirement to establish a more structured and strengthened monitoring element of the NPF, covering those thematic areas related to compact growth in particular. There have been very helpful developments such as the housing delivery tracker being made available, which allows us to observe some of the raw data in this regard. We are certainly into the phase of building that monitoring element so that it can be durable and remain live for the duration of the NPF, a phase that accompanies the finalisation of the NPF. We see our colleagues across Departments as having a role in that in addition to the environmental monitoring piece that is also to accompany it.