Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the National Networks National Policy Statement. [127786]

Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport: The purpose of the National Networks National Policy Statement (NN NPS) is to provide the Planning Inspectorate with a policy framework within which to consider applications for planning consent for developments on the strategic road network, the rail network and for rail freight interchange facilities over a certain size.

We are currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of the status and future of the strategic road network. Once this work has concluded, we will use the results to prepare a National Networks National Policy Statement.

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