§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the average length of time involved between the conclusion of a local public inquiry into a planning matter and(a) the submission to him of the reporter's recommendations and (b) his public response to the reporter's recommendations; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 3 February 1992]: The length of time varies, but it usually takes about three weeks of reporting time for each week of inquiry. If parties request the right to comment on part I of the report, that consultation process can add four weeks to the time taken to submit the completed report to my right hon. Friend.
During the year to 31 March 1991, the average time which elapsed between submission of the report to my right hon. Friend and the issue of his decision was 14 weeks. In the current year the average time taken to decision is 10 weeks.