§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets there are for the speed of decision-making in his Department on planning applications. [145748]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Government expect local planning authorities to determine 80 per cent. of planning applications within eight weeks. We have set a Best Value Performance Standard for 15 authorities with the poorest record on processing planning applications, who will be required to determine a minimum of 65 per cent. of applications within eight weeks in 2001–02. A small number of planning applications are called in by the Secretary of State for his own decision. Government Offices for the Regions are asked to issue 80 per cent. of call-in decisions within 13 weeks of receipt of the inspector's report and 100 per cent. within 20 weeks.