HC Deb 15 February 2000 vol 344 cc467-8W
Mr. Stinchcombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy that hon. Members should have the opportunity to make oral representations at the examination in public concerning the development plan policies relating to their constituencies. [109975]

Ms Beverley Hughes

Existing policy on the selection of participants in Structure Plan examinations in public (EIPs) is set out in Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and in the booklet "Structure Plans—A Guide to Procedures" published by my Department in December 1999. There are currently no plans to alter this policy. The purpose of an EIP is to provide the local structure planning authority with more information, through public discussion of certain issues, before reaching decisions on the plan. It is not intended that all those who have made objections or representations on an issue selected for discussion should be invited to take part.

Primary legislation gives responsibility to the EIP panel and the local planning authority for selecting participants. The basic criterion will be the significance of the contribution which they can be expected to make to the discussion of the matters to be examined. The aim will be to select participants (whether statutory bodies, interest groups or individuals) who between them represent a broad range of viewpoints and have a relevant contribution to make.

Mr. Stinchcombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of amending planning and public inquiry rules and legislation to give hon. Members the right to make oral representations at the examinations in public on the development plan policies concerning their constituencies.[109977]

Ms Beverley Hughes

None. However, my right hon. Friend, the then Minister for Planning, indicated in "Modernising Planning—A Progress Report", published by my Department in April 1999, that while a number of improvements had already been achieved, we would continue to consider proposals for further changes to make the planning system more efficient and effective. A summary report on research into the Operation and Effectiveness of Structure Planning System was also published in April 1999, and indicated that the Department intended to carry out a short-term review of the structure planning process in England. That review will commence shortly.