§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in each of the42W past five years how many planning applications were referred by (a) local authorities and (b) others to his Department; and how many in each category were called in. [10329]
§ Mr. RaynsfordPlanning applications are referred to the Department in a number of ways. Many are notified to my right hon. Friend under directions made under the Town and Country Planning Acts, particularly those involving development proposals that depart from the local development plan or retail development above a certain floor space. Others may be voluntarily referred to the Department by local planning authorities. In addition, any interested individual or body may ask my right hon. Friend to call in a planning application.
Information is not available in the form requested. However, in the last five years the following numbers of applications in England were called in for decision by the Secretary of State:
Year Number of applications 1992–93 101 1993–94 99 1994–95 167 1995–96 144 1996–97 139