§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward the date of the planning appeal now scheduled for May 1973, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge.
§ Mr. Graham PageI am looking into the possibility of bringing forward the inquiry into this appeal and will be in touch with my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the number of planning appeals received by his Department in 1972 compares with earlier periods; and what are the corresponding numbers of trained inspectors competent to conduct local inquiries and advise him as to decisions.
§ Mr. Graham Page11,691 planning appeals were received in the period 1st January 1972 to 31st October 1972. Corresponding figures for the same period in 1971 and 1970 were 7,926 and 6,886. There are at present 164 inspectors conducting local inquiries or site visits. The corresponding numbers at 31st October 1971 and 31st October 1970 were 139 and 137 respectively.
In addition, members of the Department's panel of inspectors, of whom there are at present 39, undertake inquiries and site visits from time to time.