§ 58. Mr. Peytonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many planning appeal inquiries under the Town and Country Planning Act took place in 1954 and 1955; and the average length of time which elapsed between the hearing of the inquiry and the promulgation of his decision.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. J. Enoch Powell)For England and Wales, 2,864 in 1954 and 3,342 in 1955. The estimated average time taken was between eight and nine weeks.
§ Mr. PeytonWhile recognising the difficulties in which my hon. Friend's Department is involved in administering this very cumbrous and impossible Act of Parliament, may I ask that he and his right hon. Friend should review its operation with a view to eliminating, so far as possible, both the delays and the other petty vexations which occur?
§ Mr. PowellThere is a continuous effort to reduce the time taken to deal with appeals but the issues concerned are often important issues, on which a hasty result should not be reached.