Planning (Hansard, 19 July 1995)

Mr. Sweeny
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will draft planning policy guidance for Wales. [36377]

§ Mr. Hague
Tomorrow I shall issue for consultation two planning guidance documents, "Planning Policy Guidance (Wales)" and "Planning Guidance (Wales): Unitary Development Plans in Wales." Copies of the documents will be placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Sweeney
To 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 1995–96. [36379]

§ Mr. Gwilym Jones
The key objectives for the agency in 1995–96 continue to be to preserve the impartiality and quality of the Inspectorate's work while seeking to improve its efficiency. I have set the following key performance targets for the agency's work in Wales:

Timeliness

(a) Eighty per cent. of planning appeals by written representations to be decided within 17 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 8 weeks of invoice date.

Efficiency

Generate a 3 per cent. efficiency improvement in the use of running costs compared with 1994–95.

Quality

(a) The number of justified complaints about the way Inspectors have carried out their duties, and the number of successful challenges in the High Court, should be less than one in every hundred decisions issued.
1406
(b) The number of justified complaints about the way in which the Inspectorate handled the procedural aspects of casework should be less than one on every hundred decisions issued.

Volume

To determine 1,005 appeals, subject to intake not declining.