§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the working of section 24 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneI am satisfied that appropriate use is being made of the section to regulate planning procedures and to exempt minor classes of development from specific control. The development orders made under it are indispensible to speeding up development control and enabling it to concentrate on the issues which really matter.