§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the current administrative cost to local authorities in England and Wales of dealing with planning, applications; and if he will introduce legislation to enable those authorities to make charges for such work.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe estimated cost for 1976–77 is about £60 million. As was said in the statement on the Dobry Report, we do not propose to introduce legislation authorising charges for planning applications.