HC Deb 17 December 1996 vol 287 cc540-1W
20. Sir Michael Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the practice of developers of paying the relevant local planning authority to conduct public opinion surveys in order to gauge the likely reaction of residents in surrounding areas to their proposed development; and what assessment he has made as to whether such payments detract from the independence of the planning system. [7870]

Mr. Robert B. Jones

There is no reason why developers should not pay all or part of any cost involved in procuring public opinion surveys, if that is relevant to the consideration of a planning application. The value of such an arrangement would be dependent on the professionalism with which the survey was conducted and the integrity of the local authority involved.