To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to give additional powers to planning authorities to enable them to intervene in disputes between neighbours caused by (a) Leylandii trees and (b) other excessively high boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [30800]

Planning permission is already required where a fence, wall or gate would be over one metre high and next to a highway used by vehicles, or over two metres elsewhere.I am considering whether some form of Government intervention in relation to Leylandii trees and other high boundary hedges is necessary.