HC Deb 27 January 2003 vol 398 c586W
Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will consult the public on the creation of a new offence of commencing development without the benefit of planning permission. [92782]

Angela Smith

The Government do not consider that a sufficient case has yet been made for the creation of a new criminal offence in Northern Ireland of commencing development without planning permission. To enable me to recommend the creation of a new offence, I would need to demonstratethat the impact of unauthorised development upon the planning system is so serious in Northern Ireland as to warrant a departure from policy elsewhere in the UK; that there is factual evidence to support this; that all the options for addressing the problem have been considered and this is the best option; and, that a regulatory impact assessment of the potential options has been made and taken into account in recommending the best option.

I am not in a position to make such a case without further work, and this needs to be done before a consultation paper can be produced that will generate an informed public debate. I want to think about the issue very carefully, before deciding on the way forward.