§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department gives guidance to metropolitan county councils on consultation procedures to be undertaken in advance of major developments.
§ Mr. TraceyAs local planning authorities, metropolitan county councils have powers, in regulations 4 and 5 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1976, to grant themselves deemed planning permission for development they intend to carry out, or which they intend others to carry out on land vested in them. The regulations prescribe the extent of the consultations to be undertaken, and authorities have been222W asked to give their proposals the same publicity as they would applications for similar development made by private individuals or bodies.