§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what performance targets he has set for the Planning Inspectorate agency's work in Wales for the financial year 1993–94.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe key objectives for the agency in Wales in 1993–94 will be to continue to preserve the impartiality and quality of the inspectorate's work while seeking further to improve efficiency. The agency's key performance targets in Wales will be:
Timeliness
- (a) Eighty per cent. of planning appeals by written representations to be decided within 18 weeks.
- (b) To provide an inspector for local plan inquiries on request within 26 weeks of the end of the objection period.
Financial
- (a) Unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed £690.
- (b) Recover 90 per cent. of receipts due within eight weeks of invoice date.
Efficiency
- Generate a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement in the use of running costs as compared with 1992–93.
Quality
- High Court appeals and/or other justified complaints allowed against Inspectors' decisions not to exceed 1 per cent. of intake.
Volume
- To determine 1,150 planning and enforcement appeals, subject to intake not declining.
Information and Guidance
- To complete a second satisfaction survey by 31 December 1993.
These and other performance targets for the agency's work in Wales will be included in its business plan for 1993–94 which will be published shortly.
Separate timeliness and volume targets for the agency's work in England are being announced today by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Planning and Construction.