HC Deb 16 July 1981 vol 8 cc1369-70
1. Mr. J. Enoch Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to introduce legislation to improve the enforcement of planning control in the Province.

The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. David Mitchell)

It is hoped to introduce legislation in the next Session on the enforcement of planning control in Northern Ireland. The proposed order will include provision for appeals against enforcement notices to be decided by the planning appeals commission, instead of by courts of petty sessions as at present.

Mr. Powell

Does the Minister recognise that this will be a valuable change in the law and that it is urgent to bring it into force in view of the spreading recognition of this loophole in planning enforcement? Is he aware that the legislation will receive the support of my hon. Friends and myself?

Mr. Mitchell

We are always grateful for support from any part of the House for the provisions that we introduce. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the main change will be to transfer appeals against enforcement notices from the petty sessions to the planning appeals commission. That will prevent the common evasion tactic of concurrent planning application and appeal to the petty sessions court.

Mr. Chapman

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a need to improve the law and the regulations on the serving and implementation of enforcement notices elsewhere in the United Kingdom? Will the changes be uniform throughout the United Kingdom? Has my hon. Friend consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment?

Mr. Mitchell

Changes affecting Great Britain are not matters for my Department. I can assure my hon. Friend that the steps that we are taking are to bring the law in Northern Ireland more closely into line with that in the rest of the United Kingdom.

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