Parliamentary Answers and Statements

The answers given in Parliament to questions asked of a minister, and other ministerial statements made in Parliament, are sometimes used to clarify policy regarding certain planning matters.

Parliamentary Answers

• PQ01 - Application of PPG6 to existing retail and leisure facilities - Answer to Parliamentary Question in the House of Commons, Hansard Vol. 302, Col 401-402 - clarifies that policy in PPG6 applies equally to extensions to existing facilities.

• PQ03 - The need for retail and leisure as a material planning consideration - Answer to Parliamentary Question in the House of Commons, Hansard Vol. 325, Col 309-310 - clarifies when the need for key town centre uses is material in determining a planning application.

• PQ05 Call-in policy statement - Answer to Parliamentary Question in the House of Commons, Hansard Col 138 - statement of policy on calling in planning applications under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

• PQ07 Planning and renewable energy - Answer to Parliamentary Question in the House of Commons, Hansard Vol 333 No 103, Col 87 - in which Planning Minister Richard Caborn said "the planning system has an important role in helping to deliver the government's target and goals for renewable energy and climate change". The Answer re-emphasises the government's commitment to policy contained in PPG22.

• PQ08 Planning appeal procedures - Answer to Parliamentary Question in the House of Commons, Hansard 31 March 1999, Col 762 - announcement of government's conclusions on streamlining appeal procedures.

Policy Statements

• Planning for Town Centres - Policy Statement by Mr Tony McNulty MP. This statement sets out the policy and how the First Secretary of State intends to operate it when determining planning applications and appeals.

• Modernising Planning - Policy statement by the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning setting out the government's proposals for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning system. ISBN: 1 85112 514 0

• Planning for the Communities of the Future - Policy document setting out the government's approach to accommodating the expected growth in new households in the period up to 2016.

• Modernising Planning - a progress report - Further description of the government's key policy objectives for the planning system, with detailed progress report on initiatives begun in 1998.