§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions over the past 10 years judicial reviews have been sought to change a decision on a town and country planning appeal determination; and in how many of these cases the review has led to a change in determination.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer, 10 July 1989]: The chief planning inspector's annual reports, copies of which are in 486W the Library, include tables for England and for Wales showing the number of High Court challenges from 1981 to 1987–88 to different kinds of appeal decision and their outcome. In relation to appeals under sections 36 or 37 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, in 1986–87 the original decision was reversed in 14 out of 27 inspectors' cases redetermined; in 1987–88 eight out of 18 such decisions were reversed. Similar information is not available for the outcome of the redetermination of appeals decided by my right hon. Friend, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.