§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to devolve powers to local authorities in relation to planning decisions. [91587]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 16 July 1999]: Most planning applications are determined by local authorities. My right hon. Friend has various powers in planning legislation. For example, he can make orders granting a general planning permission for specified categories of development and can make regulations setting fee levels for different types of application. Such powers are used primarily to ensure a consistent national approach to planning matters and we have no plans to devolve them to local authorities.