asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why local authorities have been given the right to charge for building control consent.

Provisions to authorise charges for building control services were included in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and are being implemented now as part of the Government's policy to recover the cost of services being provided at public expense where this is appropriate. Fee systems have been in force in Scotland since 1964 and in Inner London since 1939.