asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that all consent applications under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 are processed within one month of submission.

In the period up to 31 January 1985, 78 per cent. of section 8 applications were processed within four weeks and 92 per cent. within five weeks.Applications are dealt with expeditiously, but a small minority of applications can remain outstanding for substantial periods pending the receipt of adequate supporting information from the authorities concerned.