asked the Secretary of State for the Environment under what statutory powers and under what instruments local authorities have been authorised to levy charges for building control consents.

The Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 1980 were made under Section 62(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to authorise local authorities who enforce the building regulations in England and Wales to charge the fees prescribed in the regulations. Inner London, however, has separate arrangements.