§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region in the Official Report the number of planning applications for housing called in by regional authorities since 16th May 1975.
§ Mr. William RossI am informed that the Grampian Regional Council has called in three such planning applications. One was later referred back to the district council for determination.
§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the way in which regions have exercised 78W their power to call in planning applications for housing developments.
§ Mr. William RossSDD Circular 51/1975 made it clear to regional authorities that I expected them to use their call-in powers only where there might be a significant breach of an important regional policy, or where an important regional policy still to be formulated might be seriously prejudiced if the application were dealt with at district level. Where a regional planning authority calls in a planning application, the district can appeal to the Secretary of State. No such appeals have been made in respect of any called-in application for housing development.