HC Deb 13 July 1965 vol 716 cc44-5W
Mr. Howe

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, with reference to the planning appeal for which his Department's reference is APP/907/A95845/HPJ/3, why a delay is to occur from 13th April, 1965, when the appellant asked for a hearing of the appeal, to 17th November, when the hearing is due to take place; whether this interval is more or less than the average comparable intervals in other planning appeals; and whether he will take steps to expedite the hearing of the appeal in the case referred to.

Mr. Crossman

The delay is a consequence of the continued rise in the number of planning appeals. The interval in this case is about two weeks longer than the average waiting period for the country as a whole. If a siutable vacancy occurs in the inquiry list the inquiry will be brought forward.

Mr. Howe

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, with reference to appeals proceeded with under Section 23 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962, what has been during each of the last three years the average interval between the date on which the hearing of an appeal was requested and the date on which such hearing took place, and the average interval between the hearing of an appeal and the communication of his decision; how these intervals compare with appeals proceeded with since the beginning of 1965; and what steps he is taking to shorten the delay in hearing and deciding such appeals.

Mr. Crossman

The figures are given in the table below:

Year of decision 1962 1963 1964 1965 (to 31st May)
Average time (in weeks) from
(a) receipt of appeal to date of inquiry 23.7 22.0 21.0 25.0
(b) date of inquiry to issue of decision 9.8 11.1 10.3 10.4

The number of appeals is continuing to rise and the main cause of delay is the shortage of Inspectors. I am stepping up recruitment and expanding arrangements for training on the job. I have also speeded up the procedure for dealing with simpler appeals by means of written statements. As these measures take effect, they should lead to a gradual shortening of the time taken to determine appeals.