§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidance his Department has offered to local planning authorities on when they may consider the Welsh language as a factor in decisions relating to planning permission;
(2) to what extent, in deciding on appeals against decisions of local planning authorities, he considers the Welsh language as a factor relating to his decisions.
§ Mr. GristNo formal guidance has been given but local planning authorities are aware that it is a requirement on them when considering planning applications and on my right hon. Friend and his inspectors in considering planning appeals that they have regard to all material considerations. Policies which relate to the character and way of life of a community, including the needs and interests of the Welsh language, may properly be among those considerations.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any of the appeals which he has allowed against local planning authorities decisions to refuse planning permission involved decisions which had originally included the needs and interests of the Welsh language amongst the provisions of considerations material to the decision; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to require local planning authorities to include the needs and interests of the Welsh language within the provisions of their development plans and local plans.
§ Mr. GristThe protection of the character and way of life of communities is a proper aim of statutory planning, and language can be a component of that aim. My right hon. Friend has already advised local planning authorities that, in preparing both structure and local plans, authorities will wish to consider the relationship of planning policies and proposals to social needs and problems, including their likely impact on different groups in the population.