§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the regional planning guidance for Yorkshire and Humberside was subject to environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the guidance were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the guidance was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the guidance. [29490]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe process of preparing regional planning guidance generally followed the principles set out in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment". The final guidance included numerous modifications to the original advice reflecting the views expressed by environmental organisations and others. It draws heavily on published national policy. A central theme of the guidance is the need to attain the objective of sustainability. I do not intend to publish a separate environmental appraisal in addition to the material already published.
The guidance asks that development plans prepared by local authorities be subject to environment appraisal to ensure that planning policies and proposals are consistent with the principles of sustainable development set out in the guidance. The arrangements for monitoring and review and the means whereby a cross-section of organisations and interests in the region can contribute to the process is currently the subject of discussions between the Government office and local planning authorities.