§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each year since 1980, how many occasions decisions made by inspectors appointed by him to determine planning appeals have been overruled or varied by Ministers in his Department.
§ Mr. RidleyWhen inspectors are appointed to determine planning appeals their decisions are made on my behalf and I have no power to overrule or vary them.
In the few cases where, in accordance with published policy, jurisdiction for the appeal is assumed by the Secretary of State the inspector makes a recommendation, not the decision. Most such recommendations are accepted, as the following table shows:
79W
Appeals recovered for decision by Secretary of State Year Total number of appeals decided Number decided after inquiry Number of decisions contrary to inspectors recommendation 1980 13,130 845 15 1981 14,451 919 34
Appeals recovered for decision by Secretary of State Year Total number of appeals decided Number decided after inquiry Number of decisions contrary to inspectors recommendation 1982 12,915 596 20 1983 11,221 370 13 1984 11,643 253 16 1985 14,639 289 23 1986 14,823 383 23 19871 12,614 329 17 1 January-September.