§ Mr. ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if the European Union Directive on landfill of waste will be taken into account when current planning applications are being decided; [85922]
- (2) what arrangements are in place to take account of the views of objectors and their public representatives when deciding on contentious planning applications; [85919]
- (3) from what date the European Union Directive on landfill of waste will be applied to planning applications in Northern Ireland. [85921]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe emerging draft European Directive on landfill of waste is, and will continue to be, a material consideration in the assessment of planning applications. The weight to be given to the draft Directive will be influenced by its status at any given time. Greater weight will, of course, be attached when the Directive has been adopted. As regards taking account of the views of 141W objectors and their public representatives when deciding contentious planning applications, all representations received, whether in favour of or against a proposal, are considered fully before a decision on an application is reached. If necessary, a public inquiry can be called.