§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to improve the efficiency of the Planning Inspectorate. [77312]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI have asked the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 19 March 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the efficiency of the Planning Inspectorate.880WOur track record on efficiency is already excellent. Indeed we have achieved our Ministerial target for efficiency gains every year since we became an Agency in 1992.We have also improved our performance in our main business area, the processing of planning appeals, dramatically in recent years:
Handling times (for 80 per cent. of caseload) 1996–97 1998–99 (year to date) Cases by: Written Representation 25 17 Hearing 47 27 Inquiry 58 41 Note:
All times expressed in weeks from receipt to decision.
But that is not to say that further improvements cannot be made, and we expect our new targets for the coming three year period following the Comprehensive Spending Review to be even more demanding. We have a number of measures in hand to ensure that we rise to the challenge.