§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas of the United Kingdom still subject to interim development orders granted before 1970; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryInterim Development Order mineral permissions were granted between July 1943 and I July 1948 and preserved by successive planning acts. In relation to the area they cover in England and Wales I refer the hon. Member to my replies on 16 December to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith). The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to give local planning authorities the power to revoke interim development grants without having to pay compensation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Government took steps in the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 to deal with interim development order permissions. These can be updated by the imposition of modern environmental conditions which do not attract compensation provided they are consistent with the guidance in MPG9. I have no plans for further measures to deal with such permissions. My Department has recently completed a wide ranging consultation454W exercise on options for dealing with the problems of old mineral permissions generally and I hope to consult on detailed proposals for change later this year.