As the Minister will be aware, the Supreme Court recently issued a ruling on the issue of leave to apply for substitute consent. This has to be addressed. According to the Government's legislative programme for the autumn session, the planning and development (amendment) Bill is among the 30 Bills, which equates to two per week, in the priority list for publication. That Bill is meant to deal with this issue, along with several others. Is this Bill likely to be published in this session? If so, will it be published early in the session or near the end? Furthermore, is it likely that the Bill will be sent to a committee for pre-legislative scrutiny when the heads of the Bill are published?

I am informed that the legislation is due before the end of the session. As per the norm, it is expected to go through the process of pre-legislative scrutiny.