HC Deb 05 April 1995 vol 257 cc1287-8W
Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria he uses for deciding which planning appeals to delegate to inspectors; [18340]

(2) for what reasons he delegated to an inspector responsibility for the recent planning appeal at Oxclose farm, Sheffield. [18344]

Sir Paul Beresford

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 transfers responsibility for determining appeals to planning inspectors unless the Secretary of State

Title Objectives Fieldwork start date Researchers
Evaluation of 'Right to Buy' Publicity Campaign To evaluate publicity campaign April 1993 MORI
'Right to Buy' Campaign Evaluation—follow-up stage Follow-up to above survey May 1993 MORI
Helping the Earth Campaign Evaluation Research 1993–94—Waves 4 and 5 To evaluate the 'Helping the Earth' campaign July 1993 BMRB
Landlords Research To inform policy making July 1993 SCPR
Public Attitudes to the Environment To inform policy July 1993 NOP
Customer Survey: Study of Appellants' and Local Authorities' Experience of the Hearings System To assess customer satisfaction with the hearings of appeals procedures September 1993 W. S. Atkins Planning Consultants
Helping the Earth—Literature Evaluation To evaluate literature campaign September 1993 MAI
Ventilation in Homes To evaluate the effectiveness of Building Regulations October 1993 PAS
Helping the Earth Radio Campaign To assess the effectiveness of campaign October 1993 RSGB
Rent Policies of LAs in England To monitor and inform policy November 1993 Inlogov
The Nature of Demand for Housing in Rural Areas To investigate people's housing experiences in rural areas December 1993 Birmingham University
Flat Service Charges and Right to Buy To monitor and inform policy December 1993 MORI
Monitoring the Actions of Failed Grant Applicants To monitor and inform policy January 1994 PAS
Rent to Mortgage Leaflet follow-up To establish tenants opinion and action taken towards buying their home February 1994 NOP
Public Attitudes to Planning (and Development) To inform policy and promote the planning system February 1994 Prism Research
Helping the Earth Campaign, Pre and Post Monitor To assess campaign effectiveness February 1994 COI
Study of Lodgers Scheme To inform policy making on Lodgers scheme March 1994 The London Research Centre
Recreational Cycling Market Research To assess customer satisfaction April 1994 COI

decides to intervene and recover jurisdiction. The criteria for recovering jurisdiction are set out in the Government's response to the fifth report from the Environment Committee, Session 1985–86, "Planning: Appeals, Call-In and Major Public Inquiries", Command 43. The proposal at Oxclose farm did not meet any of these recovery criteria. The appeal therefore remained to be determined by an inspector.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of whether the inspector's decision on the planning appeal at Oxclose farm, Sheffield, conforms to guidance notes PPG6 and PPG13; [18338]

(2) what assessment he has made of whether the introduction of guidance notes PPG6 and PPG13 in their current form made a difference to the outcome of the recent planning appeal at Oxclose farm, Sheffield. [18339]

Sir Paul Beresford

All inspectors are expected to take account of guidance notes PPG6 and PPG13 where they are relevant. It is established practice that I do not comment on individual cases.