§ 14. Mr. Rowlandasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will review the rule relating to planning appeals, whereby consideration of one appeal cannot be deferred for some period of time to allow consideration of planning appeals for similar projects in the same locality.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Frederick Willey)There is no such rule. If two planning appeals are closely connected, my right hon. Friend considers them together; but every appeal is determined on its merits, and he would not delay one appeal in order to compare it with another unless there were strong reasons for doing so.
§ Mr. RowlandIs my right hon. Friend aware that the first part of the answer contradicts a letter which I have from the Parliamentary Secretary? Would he not agree that the kind of case about which I have written to him, namely, two different planning appeals for two golf driving ranges within five weeks of each other, should be considered together rather than the outcome of the second be determined by the outcome of the first? Should we not make sure that the procedure is not the enemy of good sense in this matter?
§ Mr. WilleyObviously my hon. Friend has misconstrued the letter which he got from the Parliamentary Secretary. It does not seem that these two cases are so closely related to justify delaying the consideration of the first. However, if my hon. Friend thinks that there is further information that we should consider and will let us have it, it will be considered.