Speeches by Mather.

“I heard the extensive debate yesterday on the question of forecasts. I found it quite interesting. On the question of granularity, it is a very difficult balance to strike, because the forecasts implicitly account for realistic modal shares. They do not show major shifts, because the data shows that they are not likely…”

“Last week, forgive me—it feels like only yesterday. The representative from the BPA said that the forecasts serve as a statement of direction and intent as regards the Government’s view that having greater resilience and flexibility through the boosting of port capacity is incredibly important. But there is a valid poi…”

“The overall ambition for the UK to become a clean energy superpower can really only occur through the ports sector being able to increase its operational capacity, while also leaning into meeting the decarb commitments through its interaction with emergent markets in relation to offshore wind and alternative fuels. It …”

“It has made it very clear that you have to take the issue of increasing operational port capacity and developing offshore wind together. The two things dovetail. On modal shift, the greater recognition of the need for an interconnected freight transport system, with rail playing its full role, is crucial. More broadly …”

“It is an interesting point of view, which we are certainly happy to take on board. If you take the NPS as part of a broader range of Government action, I would say that yesterday the Government announced the largest ever investment in the maritime sector, with £448 million to decarbonise shipping. In that sense, the Go…”

“I think the NPS makes reference to emerging technology, whether that be alternative fuels or shoreside electrification. That is a clear statement of intent about our willingness to work with port operators to pursue that work, but there is a balance to be struck. That was ably teased out in last week’s panel discussion…”

“Scare me? It is certainly a challenge. The broader point around grid connectivity and energy generation is extremely important. In my few days in the role, I have been able to hear from quite a broad range of stakeholders with some interesting ideas about how to facilitate shoreside power generation through renewable s…”

“The document acknowledges that port capacity and offshore renewables manufacturing are fundamentally linked. In combination with the overall importance and weight that the document places on meeting the Government’s clean energy mission, I believe that that is a clear sign of intent as to how the Government wish progre…”

“We have also received consultation responses on both sides of this debate, and my view is that assessments should be both proportionate and realistic as to the projected carbon impact that port development will bring. It is the case that most of those developments will not affect carbon budgets as a whole, but that is …”

“For a development consent order, where a deemed marine license is usually required, it will be issued on the advice of the Marine Management Organisation as part of an overall single consent. For a harbour order, a separate license is issued, but both order and licence are processed in parallel by the MMO, so in practi…”

“We have worked with DEFRA closely and collaborated quite extensively to ensure that the NPS is consistent with our joint strategic requirements. We have received several detailed comments from DEFRA agencies, which we will actively consider as part of the process, but that conversation is ongoing. It will not only info…”

“I can tell! The findings of the appraisal of sustainability are proportionate to the impact that the NPS can be expected to have in its own right, seeing as it is largely dependent on a wider policy context that it has to reflect. That being said, we can actively consider how editorial change in response to the consult…”

“Save your answer!”

“I think the findings—”

“Thank you very much, Chair. It is a pleasure to appear before your Committee. I am Keir Mather, the new Minister for Maritime and Aviation.”

“If you will allow me, Chair, I would like very briefly to start by thanking you—”

“Thank you; it is very kind of you to permit me. It is a real pleasure to address the Committee for the first time. As I begin this role, I hope it is the first of many such appearances. I am particularly excited to make my first appearance on the subject of ports, which means a great deal to me as a native son of the p…”

“We are very pleased to have had a broad range of responses to the consultation across a wide number of areas. In terms of our overall approach, we are looking to engage in good faith with what everybody has to say about where the NPSP could be improved. Legitimate points were raised both through the consultation and in…”

“Yes. Some issues that were raised are not directly relevant to what the Government considers to sit within the broader scope of the NPSP. But that does not mean they cannot be taken forward as part of other work we are doing. It is incumbent on me, as the new Maritime Minister, to think about how legitimate discussions…”

“It is an interesting question. Discussions on the principle of NSIP thresholds and how it relates to section 24 of the Planning Act can happen outside the formal consultation on the NPSP. More broadly, the NPSP references the ambitious principles that the Government want to take forward to make sure that our ports are …”