§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to require applicants who seek planning permission to obtain certification that plans meet building control regulations before proceeding.
§ Mr. NeedhamNo. Not all classes of building work require planning permission and for those which do it would introduce unreasonable and unnecessary delay without adding significantly to the effectiveness of building regulations.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the numbers of new properties completed and occupied before plans have been 477W amended to meet building control regulations; and if he will take steps to ensure that district council building control officers are able to obtain amendments to incomplete plans submitted in a reasonable time after request.
§ Mr. NeedhamNone. Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained and compiled only at disproportionate cost. Neither the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 nor the regulations made under it require applicants to submit amended drawings within a prescribed period. I have at present no intention of introducing legislation prescribing such a period.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of plans submitted to district councils in Northern Ireland have required amendment before approval could be granted under building control regulations in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. NeedhamInformation in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained and compiled only at disproportionate cost.