asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number and the percentage of appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 where the Minister has overruled the inspector since the publication of the White Paper on the Community Land Bill and the equivalent figure and percentages for the same period prior to publication of the White Paper.

Between 1st October 1974 and 30th September 1975 the Secretary of State overruled the inspector's recommendation in 48 cases. This represents 3·4 per cent. of the total number of appeals decided by the Secretary of State during that period following a local inquiry. Corresponding figures for the preceding 12-month period are 68 and 6·03 per cent. respectively.