§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take on the proposal in his consultation paper on the planning appeal system to transfer all appeals to inspectors.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. Friend has already set in train the drafting of the necessary regulations to transfer all classes of planning appeal to inspectors and the regulations will be laid before the House as soon as possible. The regulations however will allow my right hon. Friend to recover jurisdiction in that small minority of cases where a ministerial decision is appropriate. The proposal should achieve a significant reduction in times taken to decide appeals.