HL Deb 25 October 1993 vol 549 cc77-8WA
Lord Denning

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Secretary of State for the Environment has created by administrative direction an executive agency called the Planning Inspectorate and has delegated to the Chief Planning Officer personal responsibility for success and freedom to manage all the powers and the duties of the Secretary of State under Schedules 14 and 15 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: and in particular whether an inspector appointed under Paragraph 10, subparagraph 1 of Schedule 15 can lawfully confirm his own decision in lieu of the Secretary of State thus making himself autonomous.

Baroness Denton of Wakefield

The Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency was established with effect from 1st April 1992. Among its duties the agency is responsible for processing orders on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment submitted under schedule 15 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The legality of a decision of an Inspector appointed under Paragraph 10, subparagraph 1 of Schedule 15 to the 1981 Act is not in question as the appointment is made on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment and not the Chief Planning Inspector. The day to day responsibility for administering those parts of schedule 14 to the 1981 Act for which the Secretary of State for the Environment has responsibility stilt remains with the Department of the Environment.

Lord Denning

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the time and expense involved to them and to the county councils in preparing for and carrying out the enquiries by inspectors under paragraph 10 subparagraph 1 of schedule 15 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have spiralled so greatly that it is no longer cost effective to continue them.

Baroness Denton of Wakefield

The time and expense to county councils in preparing for and participating in inquiries by inspectors appointed under Paragraph 10, subparagraph 1 of Schedule 15 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are not known. There are no indications that our costs for such inquiries have significantly increased.