§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications are now outstanding in his Department; what is the longest period that an application has awaited his decision; how many have been outstanding more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months and over; and what steps he is taking to speed up the decision-making process.
§ Mr. MacfarlanePlanning applications are made to the local planning authority and there is a right of appeal to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. At the end of September 1984 the Department had 7,893 appeals in hand, of which 214 were in abeyance at the request of the parties. The breakdown of the remaining cases is as follows:284W
Number (a) Over 3 months old 4,054 (b) Over 6 months old 1,512 (c) Over 9 months old 581 (d) Over 12 months old 372 The Department does not keep records of the longest period that an appeal has awaited a decision. Some cases are delayed with the agreement of both parties pending the resolution of issues such as structure plan policies.
Additional resources are already being provided to deal with the rising number of appeals.