§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals have been made in each of the last three years; if he will express these figures in terms of percentage increase; how many planning appeal inspectors have been in post in each of the last three years; and what percentage of appeals within the last 12 months have been heard within the time limit prescribed by the relevant legislation.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe information requested is as follows:
Planning Appeals Year Planning appeals received Percentage increase over previous year Per cent. 1986–87 19,856 11.3 1987–88 22,482 13.2 1988–89 28,659 27.4
Salaried inspectors in post as at 31 December Number 1987 166 1988 173 11989 190 1 As at 30 November 1989. A total of 1,424 planning appeals have so far been processed under the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988 and the Town and Country Planning (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988. In 724 cases (50.8 per cent. of the total) the inquiry was held within the timetable set out in the rules.