§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the criteria that he uses in exercising power under article 10 of the town and country planning General Development Order 1977.
§ Mr. ChopeThe power of direction under article 10(1) of the GDO is used sparingly, and normally only when more time is needed for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to decide whether or not to call in a particular planning application for his own decision. The criteria for directions under article 10(2) (as inserted by the Town and Country Planning General Development (Amendment) Order 1988) are set out in DOE Circular 15/88.