HC Deb 16 May 1960 vol 623 cc97-8W
Mr. Corfield

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many planning appeals he decided during the six months ended 31st March, 1960; how many of these were decided upon a report from one of his inspectors appointed to hold a public local inquiry; how many involved a hearing of representations by a person appointed by him for that purpose; how many were decided solely upon the written representations of the parties; how many were decided solely upon the written representations of the parties; how many appeals, in each of these categories, were allowed and how many dismissed; and, in the first category, how many decisions were contrary to the recommendations of the inspector holding the inquiry.

Sir K. Joseph

In the six months from 1st October, 1959, to 31st March, 1960, 3,255 appeals under Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, were decided. 2,346 were decided after a public local inquiry or hearing; of these 1,755 were dismissed and 591 allowed. 155 decisions were contrary to the recommendation of the Inspector. 909 were decided on the written representations of the parties; of these, 585 were dismissed and 324 were allowed. Separate figures are not available for cases decided after a hearing, as distinct from a public local inquiry, but very few appeals, if any, were dealt with during this period by way of a hearing.