HC Deb 26 March 1998 vol 309 cc244-5W
Mr. Edwards

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 1998–99. [36831]

Mr. Win Griffiths

As in previous years, the main objectives for the Planning Inspectorate are to maintain the impartiality and quality of its work while making the most efficient use of the resources available to it. I have today set the following key targets for the Agency's work in Wales:Timeliness

  1. (a) Eighty per cent. of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined within 17 weeks;
  2. (b) Eighty per cent. of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined within 22 weeks;
  3. (c) Eighty per cent. of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined within 30 weeks;
  4. (d) (i) To provide an inspector for local/unitary development plan inquiries in at least 80 per cent. of cases on the date requested by the local planning authority—provided that the objection period has ended and at least 6 months notice is given; and,
  5. (ii) To deliver 90 per cent. of inspector's reports on local /unitary development plan inquiries to local authorities according to the timescales agreed under service agreements;
Financial
  1. (a) Unit costs of planning appeals decided by written representations not to exceed the target set for the Inspectorate by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions;
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  2. (b) Recover receipts in accordance with the target set for the Inspectorate by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions;

Efficiency Contribute to the generation of an efficiency improvement in the Agency's use of running costs compared with 1997–98, in accordance with the target set for the Inspectorate by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions;

Quality To satisfy the Advisory Panel on Standards, and thus the Secretary of State, annually and following rigorous monitoring, that the quality of the Inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard with 99 per cent. of its casework free from justified error;

Welsh Language To respond in Welsh to all inquiries, written or oral, received in Welsh within the same time-scales as allowed for responding to inquiries generally.