I draw Members' attention to my declaration in the Members' interests. The Welsh Conservatives will be abstaining on these regulations. Whilst looking through the explanatory memorandum, I can understand the logic that the Minister has come to a decision over, as these fees have not increased since 2015. To put through a 20 per cent increase in the current climate would seem to be exceptionally harsh when we're looking to encourage small applications to come forward, which would be subject to this increase, especially amongst small builders and maybe individuals looking to put a small extension on their house.

I also note that, from the explanatory memorandum, there's only an expectation that any additional money will be kept within planning departments rather than, obviously, ring-fencing it so any increased income would stay within the department to improve the performance.

Also in the explanatory memorandum, the Minister draws Members' attention to the level of consultation and the responses that have been had, and I note that, of the 59 responses to the consultation about the increase, 41 responses were either from Government agencies or local authorities, and only four were from members of the public. I think this does set a dangerous precedent for other areas of regulated income, such as NRW, who are looking at their fee structure, and to set the benchmark at 20 per cent would seem to be excessive at this moment in time. Although, as Welsh Conservatives, we do accept that there is a cost to planning, and that cost is identified, at the moment, as only being achieved at 60 per cent of 100 per cent cost. But to put a cost increase of 20 per cent at this moment in time would seem excessive and, therefore, as Welsh Conservatives, we'll be abstaining on these regulations.