HC Deb 18 March 2002 vol 382 cc112-3W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often the Department has applied the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to a development by the Department; and if she will make a statement.[38715]

Mr. Morley

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was only created in June 2001. This reply, therefore, covers the period from that date. This Department has never applied the special urgency provisions of Circular 18/84. This Department makes every effort to follow the usual local authority planning procedures when contemplating land or building developments. The special urgency provisions of Circular 18/84 would be invoked only as a last resort in the most urgent of cases.