§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average time taken by his Department to decide planning applications which have been called in in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what targets he has set on the length of time taken to determine such planning applications. [97910]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe average time taken to decide planning applications called in by the Secretary of State in the 12 months to the end of September 1999 was 27 weeks from the date of call-in. The Secretary of State aims to issue 80 per cent. of decisions within 13 weeks of receipt of the Inspector's report and 100 per cent. of decisions within 20 weeks.