HC Deb 23 April 2002 vol 384 cc190-1W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to prepare a statutory definition of the purpose of the planning system; and if he will make a statement. [52091]

Mr. Byers

In response to the Green Paper "Planning: delivering a fundamental change", a number of bodies have suggested that there should be a statutory purpose for the planning system. My officials have written to a range of organisations seeking views on this proposal.