HC Deb 26 October 1988 vol 139 c234W
Mr. Nicholas Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward an amendment to planning law to provide that failure to obtain planning permission should be an offence.

Mr. Chope

My right hon. Friend is aware of some support for such an amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act 1971. This is one of the matters to be considered by Mr. Robert Carnwath QC, in his current review of planning authorities' enforcement powers, and my right hon. Friend therefore prefers to await any recommendation Mr. Carnwath may make in his report early in the new year.