HC Deb 13 March 2002 vol 381 cc1081-2W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role of councils in the planning process in the next five years. [41906]

Ms Keeble

I have been asked to reply.

The Government have set out in the Planning Green Paper "Planning: delivering a fundamental change" proposals to significantly simplify the arrangements under which County, District and Unitary councils are responsible for preparing and adopting development plans. We will put forward firm proposals once we have considered the responses to consultation, which finishes on 18 March. Thereafter implementation will depend on the making of necessary changes to primary legislation.