I must begin with a statement on Crown consent. For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I wish to advise Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill, has consented to place her prerogative and interests, in so far as they are affected by the bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the bill.

I place on record my thanks to the Communities Committee and its clerks for their exceptionally thorough consideration of the bill at stages 1 and 2 and, in particular, to Karen Whitefield for her leadership, which ensured that that happened so successfully. I also thank my officials for their superb and continuing work on planning legislation. Finally, my deputy Johann Lamont, who is the best deputy that anyone could ever wish to have, has made an outstanding contribution to the bill's passage.

The year 2006 has been a watershed year for planning in Scotland. This year, all the consultation, engagement, policy development and debate have culminated in a parliamentary process that has laid the foundation for years to come. As I have said before, the planning system in Scotland is undergoing its most fundamental and comprehensive modernisation since its creation in the immediate post-war period.

I have been struck by the consensus on the bill's core provisions. Of course, legislation of this size, importance and complexity will raise controversial issues, but much of what we have proposed has been welcomed across the board. Few people, if any, have dissented from the introduction of a statutory national planning framework; of the revitalisation of development plans that embrace the ambitions of sustainable development; of the creation of a hierarchy in planning to allow more proportionate processes; of a tighter approach to appeals; of a raft of measures that will ensure that planning decisions take local people's interests fully into account; and of an enhanced enforcement regime.

Yes—there have been debates about the detail and some of the substance, and some interests feel that more could be added to the bill but, in general, all parties recognise that a great deal of the bill has got it right. I believe that it is a well- balanced package that contains measures that will promote efficiency and inclusion. It represents a bold and challenging programme of modernisation that will put planning back at the heart of Scotland's growth and development.

We need to remember three key messages as we reach the end of the legislative process. First, the purpose of the planning reforms is to improve the quality of outcomes. The best processes in the world are worthless unless they are used in a way that delivers what we really need: good-quality and well-serviced affordable housing; sustainable businesses that provide jobs and economic growth; and the infrastructure that is required to deal with our waste as cleanly as possible and to provide safe, efficient and sustainable modes of transport. Our modernisation measures should help to unlock planning's potential.

The national planning framework is a key element in the reform package of the planning system. I am strongly committed to ensuring that all interested parties are fully engaged and involved in the preparation of the second national planning framework and that participation arrangements are inclusive, open and transparent. Before that process begins, I will publish a participation statement that will set out when and how it will take place and the steps that will be taken to ensure that the public are fully involved. I expect that formal consultation on the scope and content of the second national planning framework will begin early in 2007 and that the consultative draft will follow in the autumn.

A crucial feature of the bill is that it will place on planning authorities a duty to exercise any development planning function with the objective of contributing to sustainable development. A similar duty will be placed on Scottish ministers in their preparation of the national planning framework. Scottish ministers may issue guidance on that to planning authorities. The preparatory work that has begun on the statutory guidance for sustainable development is focusing on an analysis of existing published material. We intend to consult on the draft early in the new year.

The second key message that I want to emphasise is that one of the most important lessons of the past few years has been that proposals are always improved when there has been extensive engagement with and consultation of everyone who has an interest in them. The Communities Committee commended the Executive for the range and extent of its engagement with all stakeholders as the modernisation proposals were developed. It has been hard work, but the broad consensus behind much of the package reflects the value of that engagement. A central feature of our vision for the modernised planning system is that early engagement and discussion—not least on development planning—are the keys to success.

The reinforcement of the central role of development plans in guiding and shaping the development of our towns and cities and in ensuring that local people and other stakeholders have a wide range of opportunities to influence change in their communities is crucial to the success of the reform agenda. Plans must be up to date and communities must be able to engage at an early stage in the process if we are to create a successful Scotland that will grow and develop in the right places at the right time.

My final message is the inevitable comment that the passage of the bill is just the beginning—it will take a great deal of effort to turn the bill's ambitions into reality. As with all modernisation that is initiated by primary legislation, many of the fundamental measures—if they are approved by Parliament—will take time to come into force. An intense programme of modernising and updating regulations, circulars, statutory guidance, Scottish planning policies and planning advice notes will need to take place. Some of the groundwork for that has begun, but further consultation of and debate with stakeholders is essential in ensuring that the detail is practical and effective and in enabling key areas of planning modernisation to be implemented as soon as is practical.

However, the modernisation of the planning system goes much wider than just the changes that are being made through the bill. The bill's enactment should herald a change not just in processes, but in attitudes, behaviours and practices.