§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what the planning status of technical advice notes will be; if they will be subject to consultation; and if he will make a statement; [22052]
(2) when he plans to publish the single planning policy guidance (Wales); and if he will make a statement; [22054]
(3) if the technical advice notes will be released at the same time as the planning policy guidance (Wales); and if he will make a statement; [22053]
(4) what plans he has to prepare technical advice notes on nature conservation; and if he will make a statement. [22055]
§ Mr. HagueA final decision on planning policy guidance in Wales has not yet been taken, but I shall be making an announcement shortly. If I decide to go ahead with a single planning policy guidance (Wales) document it would be issued in advance of the series of technical advice notes. The intention would be to cancel the current PPG series but leave the technical guidance contained in the notes extant until the TANs were issued in their formal form.
Full consultation would take place on any draft TANs, one of which would relate to nature conservation, produced by my Department. The status of the TANs would be made clear at the time of issue.