§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Property Services Agency is exempt from planning land building regulation controls; and if he will make a statement.
20W
§ Mr. MarksI assume that the Question refers to planning and building regulation controls. The position of the Property Services Agency in relation to these controls does not differ from that of Government Departments generally. While the Crown is not subject to the statutory application of the Town and Country Planning Acts, it follows analogous non-statutory procedures by which it complies with the spirit of the legislation. So far as building regulation control is concerned, there is power in the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to make the Crown subject to the technical requirements of the regulations. This will be done as soon as resources permit.