3.13 We note the Committee’s recommendation on this point. However, the Government does not intend to accord ports Critical National Priority (CNP) status at this juncture. 3.14 This is not, however, to underplay ports’ importance. We agree with the point that ports play an essential role in the supply chain and in enabling energy developments. But for that very reason, the advancement of CNP projects will necessarily stimulate ports to compete to meet that demand. In practice therefore, CNP projects are very likely to bring about a demonstrable need for port capacity, and in conjunction with the strong weight attached to the need to service such demand in the NPSP itself, will acquire a degree of weighting and priority comparable with that of CNP. 3.15 We have reviewed the NPSP text with this in mind and strengthened the expression of the needs case in relation to CNP infrastructure. National Policy Statement for Ports: Section 35 of the Planning Act