§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received in the last 12 months concerning reform of planning laws affecting business. [1429]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department has had a number of representations from the business community about the planning system. We have been consulting widely over the last year with all key stakeholders interfacing with the planning system to explore its impact on business and competitiveness.
The Government have recently announced a reform of planning and we are working closely on this with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.