Mr. Michael Jabez FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to improve the arrangements for processing planning enforcement appeals in England. [98607]
§ Ms Beverley HughesI have today issued a consultation paper with proposals to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of processing planning enforcement appeals in England. Comments are invited by 18 February 2000.
The improvements are proposed as part of the Government's continuing drive to modernise and streamline the planning system. The proposals are intended to improve the Planning Inspectorate's service to its customers. They aim to increase the efficiency of the enforcement appeals process in the interests of all involved by reducing the time taken to determine appeals and standardise procedures between enforcement appeals and ordinary planning appeals wherever practicable.