§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to accelerate the decision—making process with regard to planning inquiries. [138615]
§ Ms Beverley HughesI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) on 27 June 2000,Official Report, columns 453–54W.
The statutory instruments setting out the streamlined procedures for handling planning appeals by written representations, hearings and inquiries in England, and laid before Parliament that day, came into effect on 1 August 2000.