§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the incidence of local authorities giving themselves planning permission for a housing development prior to holding a public inquiry into the development proposal.
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§ Mr. TraceyThe Department's evidence to the Select Committee on the Environment's investigation of appeals, call-in and major public inquiries, reported
in the year April 1984—March 1985 a little over 12,300 deemed permissions were granted. Of these almost 1,400 in respect of land vested in local authorities but where the development was to be carried out by others. We do not know how many of these permissions represented departures from development plans".Nor do we know in how many cases a public inquiry was held. The Select Committee recommended in its subsequent report that
the Department conducts a thoroughgoing review of the procedures by which local authorities grant themselves planning permission".In their response (Cmnd. 43) the Government noted that the Department is reviewing the working of the 1976 General Regulations, which prescribe the relevant procedures.