§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to end the exemption from planning consents for newly privatised utilities and local authorities.
§ Mr. CurryWe have no plans to withdraw the permitted development rights granted to statutory undertakers or to local authorities by the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988. The need for newly privatised utilities to have permitted development rights is considered on a case-by-case basis in the context of the relevant privatisation legislation.