§ 21. Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have decided fewer than 50 per cent. of planning applications within eight weeks in each of the past four quarters.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe latest figures available indiciate that for the four quarters ending in September 1982, the number of authorities who decided fewer than half their applications in eight weeks was 33, 43, 36 and 25, respectively. In the last of these quarters, only 7 per cent. of authorities were below this level as compared with 17 per cent. a year before.
§ 41. Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken between receiving an inspector's report on a public inquiry into a planning application and the final recommendation to the parties concerned of his determination.
§ Mr. Giles ShawFor appeals determined by the Secretary of State following a public inquiry the mean time taken in 1981 and 1982 between the receipt of the inspector's report and the issue of the decision was 13 and 14 weeks, respectively. A number of cases, including some called in planning applications, took longer than this.