To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines were issued by local authorities as to the criteria to be used in producing unified development plans; and whether changes to these plans will be required following publication of new criteria in the regional planning guidance note No. 2.

The Government have issued instructions on the production of unitary development plans through the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, and the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations 1991. It has issued guidance on national and regional planning policy through planning policy guidance notes, regional planning guidance notes, minerals planning guidance notes and circulars.National and regional guidance should be taken into account during the preparation of unitary development plans. When such guidance is updated, it may lead to plan changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is being used for revising the regional planning guidance note No. 2; and when he expects the revised note to be published.

The revised regional policy guidance note 2 will be based on advice received from the standing conference of local planning authorities in Yorkshire and Humberside.I expect a draft of the revised RPG2 to be published for consultation in spring 1994.