§ Sir Peter MorrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 July,Official Report, column 241, (1) when he decided to remove prime responsibility from local authorities for the formulation of detailed proposals in local plans for their areas;
(2) if he will list the factors on which he based his decision to change his policy in relation to development plans from that of giving priority to district and county councils.
§ Mr. YeoThere has been no such change in policy. Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, local planning authorities have the primary responsibility for the preparation of development plans; but that Act also sets out the powers through which the Secretary of State may intervene in that process. In particular, until the Planning and Compensation Bill provisions on development plans are commenced, the Secretary of State has the final responsibility for approving structure plans. Our policy is to use these powers of intervention only when necessary, for example to secure consistency with national or regional strategic guidance.