HC Deb 25 October 1984 vol 65 c714W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the reasons for collecting statistics of the planning decisions of the City of London and the 32 London boroughs; and what use is made of them.

Sir George Young

These returns were introduced to meet the criticisms in the Dobry report that the Department was insufficiently informed as to the workings of the development control system. The figures are published to provide a broad picture of the operation of the system; those for individual local authorities provide useful yardsticks for them to judge the effectiveness of their own performance.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total number of planning applications in the Greater London area took longer than the statutory eight weeks before a decision was issued over the last year.

Sir George Young

Fifty per cent. of planning applications in the Greater London area took longer than eight weeks before a decision was issued in 1983.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total number of planning applications in the Greater London area took longer than 13 weeks before a decision was issued over the last three years.

Sir George Young

Twenty-one per cent. of planning applications in the Greater London area took longer than 13 weeks before a decision was issued in the period 1981 to 1983.