asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the policy of his Department concerning proposals for charging for planning applications made to local government authorities; and what increases in staff they would be expected to require to accommodate such a procedure.

My Department has issued a consultation paper setting out detailed proposals for charges for planning applications. I shall consider the responses to that before making final decisions on the scheme. We are taking a number of measures to simplify the planning system and I would not expect the introduction of charges to result in a need for local planning authorities to take on extra staff.