§ Rev. William McCreaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the speed with which planning applications are being dealt.
§ Mr. Chris PattenYes; 75 per cent. of planning applications received by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland are determined within two months.
§ Rev. William McCreaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members there are in the planning directorate to which appeals can be made regarding planning refusals.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe planning directorate consists of three senior officials in the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland — the director of the town and country planning service, the chief planning officer (this post is vacant at present) and the assistant secretary in the planning division; it considers planning applications referred to it by district councils where there is a difference of opinion between the district council and the divisional planning office. Appeals against planning refusals are made to the planning appeals commission.