To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue planning policy guidance on the arts for consultation with local authorities.

My right hon. Friend has not yet decided whether or when to issue for public consultation draft guidance on planning policy in relation to the arts, but we have recently received from the Arts Council its proposals for such guidance. We will consider the council's draft carefully in the context of reviewing planning policy guidance note 1 (PPGI—general policy and principles).