My hon. Friend Gordon Banks has rightly highlighted the crisis in the construction industry. I want to focus on one aspect: planning. Consistently in my dealings with construction company representatives, I hear the strongly held view that some local authority planning departments are caught in a time warp and have not responded to the changing economic climate. Businesses often feel that there is a huge gulf between fine rhetoric—well-intentioned words of support—from local authorities and positive outcomes at grass-roots level. I am aware of several proposed developments that have secure funding and outline planning permission to take them forward, yet in these difficult economic times, when planning applications have drastically declined, inordinate delays are impeding implementation, with resulting job losses.

Concerns have been raised consistently about the following: a lack of strategic interventions when there is an impasse at local planning level, with discretionary powers not being used; a ponderous and inflexible planning process, with inherent delays at a time when speedy decisions are required to sustain jobs; a widespread perception, if not reality, of restrictive practices and unnecessary barriers; and continuing perceptions that some planning departments are reactive and defensive, rather than proactive and receptive.

In essence, there is strong feeling among sections of our communities that some planning systems are not fit for purpose, and there needs to be greater flexibility and urgency to accelerate projects to sustain vital jobs in this industry. All partners involved in supporting the construction industry need to work closely together to sustain and create jobs. In particular, I urge that political differences at national, devolved and local authority level must be set aside in the wider interests of infrastructure and housing projects, and that those need to be brought forward as quickly as possible.

In Scotland over the past two years, despite Scottish Government promises of matching previous programmes "brick for brick", not a new brick has been laid by the Scottish Futures Trust. Ideological differences must be abandoned for the sake of our work force and our communities. Across all levels of government, we must take whatever action is needed to assist us through these very difficult and challenging times, and if planning systems need to change, so be it. Does the Minister agree that doing nothing about such planning matters is not an option?