§ Mr. PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce new statutory rules of procedure governing planning applications and appeals which go to public inquiry.
§ Mr. WaldegraveFollowing consultation with the Council on Tribunals, two sets of rules, made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor, have been laid before both Houses.
They are the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988—in respect of decisions taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales; and the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1988—in respect of decisions taken by planning inspectors appointed by either of my right hon. Friends.
The revised rules are intended to make the planning inquiry process as efficient and effective as possible, while not impairing the fairness and impartiality of inquiry proceedings, or the ability of participants to make representations which are relevant to the decision. In particular, the new rules provide for a fuller exchange of information among the various interested parties about their respective cases before an inquiry opens, and introduce a more detailed timetable for the steps to be taken before an inquiry opens. Other new features are that they regulate pre-inquiry meetings and the procedure to be followed if a decision is quashed by the courts.
Also issued today are an explanatory circular to local authorities and two non-statutory codes of practice. The first is on preparing for major inquiries and the second governs the conduct of hearings, which are held as an alternative to inquiries in suitable cases.
I hope that applicants or appellants, local planning authorities, and other parties to planning cases will co-operate fully in implementing the new arrangements so that the benefits, for all parties involved, of smoother procedures and quicker decisions can be fully achieved.