HC Deb 24 July 1989 vol 157 c464W
Mr. Heddle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals to create an independent planning inspectorate on an agency basis.

Mr. Howard

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 21 December last year, he is considering whether the planning inspectorate should become an executive agency. As an agency, the inspectorate would continue to be part of the Department of the Environment accountable to the Secretary of State. The change in status would not alter the inspectorate's functions nor the Secretary of State's statutory responsibilities for the planning system.