§ Mr. Paul ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the Planning Inspectorate. [117394]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy Department has today launched a review of the Planning Inspectorate. The Planning Inspectorate was established as an Executive Agency in April 1992 and, in line with Cabinet Office guidelines for all executive agencies, it must be reviewed at least every five years.
The last review of the Inspectorate in 1995 confirmed its Agency status. This review which will be completed by the end of 2000 will be undertaken in two stages.
The first will consider all the organisational options for the Inspectorate including abolition; continued agency status; contracting-out; market testing; merger or rationalisation; privatisation.
If Agency status is confirmed, the second stage will consider how the Inspectorate's efficiency could be improved.
The review will be undertaken jointly by DETR and the National Assembly for Wales. The Agency's customers and other interested parties will be consulted.