§ 30. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for shortening the time taken by his Department in reaching decisions on planning issues.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI have recently transferred further classes of appeal for decision by inspectors. Some 60 per cent. will in future be decided in this way with a consequent shortening of the time taken. I am also considering how I can improve further the handling of all appeals and planning matters coming to me for decision.
§ Mr. LaneWhile I am grateful for that Answer, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware that there is longstanding exasperation in Cambridge at the delays which occur in Whitehall concerning development proposals and traffic management schemes? If he can speed up the tempo, my constituents will be very grateful to him.
§ Mr. WalkerWe will certainly do all that is possible in that direction.
§ Mr. John SilkinWhile agreeing with the right hon. Gentleman that the 1968 Act is working reasonably well with regard to final determination by inspectors—it is, as he knows, only a very limited class affecting, I think, only areas of 10 residential dwellings at a time—may I ask him to consider widening the powers of inspectors so that they have a larger area to consider on final determination?
§ Mr. WalkerWe have already made a considerable widening by increasing the percentage of appeals which go to inspectors from about 40 per cent. to 60 per cent., which represents a quite substantial increase. Certainly, this matter will be 389 kept continually under review, because we want to enjoy the maximum speed that can be obtained as a result of the basic principles of the 1968 Act.