HC Deb 05 May 1999 vol 330 cc389-90W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since March 1994, he or his predecessors have intervened during consideration of (a) a development plan and (b) an individual planning application, because the proposals would conflict with the potential to carry freight by water or rail. [82884]

Mr. Raynsford

Since March 1994 the Secretary of State has issued 34 directions to local planning authorities for them to change policies or proposals in their development plans; none of these concerned conflict with the potential to carry freight by water/rail. Information is not held centrally on the reasons for call-in of planning applications by the Secretary of State in that period. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.