§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider amending the relevant Acts to require statutory undertakers to apply 322W to the appropriate local planning authority for planning permission in the same way as everyone else;
(2) if he will review section 40 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 which allows development by statutory undertakers to receive deemed planning consent following authorisation by an appropriate department.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettSection 40 is now used only in the case of certain operations of energy statutory undertakers. In other cases, statutory undertakers apply for permission for proposed developments in the ordinary way, unless permission already exists under the general development order. My right hon. Friend keeps the matter under review.