HC Deb 09 November 2001 vol 374 cc462-3W
Mr. Clifton-Brown>

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning decisions the Secretary of State called in from local planning authorities, and in what categories, during the last year. [13751]

Ms Keeble

127 planning applications were called in between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001.

Type of development Number of. applications. called-in
Community, health and education 3
Recreation and leisure 14
Industry 1
Mineral extraction/exploration 1
Offices and studios 1
Residences 48
Retail 35
Transport, utilities and communication 12
Wholesale, storage and distribution 3
Others 9
Total 127

Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) planning appeals before the Planning Inspectorate and (b) planning appeals being considered by the Secretary of State there were in (i) June 1997 and (ii) June 2001; and what was the average length of time taken to determine them in each case. [13750]

Ms Keeble

The figures for each are shown by financial year. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

Planning Inspectorate Appeals received
1997–98 14,182
2000–01 15,336

Target 1997–98: issue 80 per cent, of appeals decisions within 20 weeks for written representations, 33 weeks for hearings, 44 weeks for inquiries. The Inspectorate's performance for each was 21, 40 and 52 weeks respectively.

Target 2000–01: issue 80 per cent, of decisions within 17 weeks for written representations, 23 weeks for hearings, 33 weeks for inquiries. The Inspectorate's performance against appeals targets for each was 17, 21 and 31 weeks respectively.

Secretary of State Appeals recovered
1997–98 208
2000–01 163

Target 1997–98: issue 80 per cent, of decisions within eight weeks and 100 per cent, within 13 weeks from receipt of Inspector's report. Performance: 51 per cent, in eight weeks and 76 per cent, in 13 weeks.

Target: 2000–01: issue 80 per cent, of decisions within eight weeks and 100 per cent, within 13 weeks. Performance: 56.4 per cent, in eight weeks and 66.9 per cent, in 13 weeks.

We intend to make dramatic improvements in the time taken to decide recovered appeals.