§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue new guidance on the charging policy of local authorities and on minimum standards for providing access to planning documents by local authorities.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend has not issued general guidance on local authority fees and charges and has no plans to do so in the near future.
Section 69 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires local planning authorities to keep a register of planning applications and to make it available for public inspection. This duty is referred to in planning policy and minerals planning guidance notes produced by the Welsh Office. Welsh Office circular 11/86 gives guidance on the provisions of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985. My right hon. Friend has no proposals to issue new guidance.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it a new duty for local authorities to supply copies of planning documents on request.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesNo. The Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 provides for public inspection of certain background papers about local authority proceedings. The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 removed certain impediments on copyright and permits the copying of material open to public inspection.