To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the objectives are of the proposed planning policy for the countryside set out under Draft Planning Policy Statement 14. (107796)

The objectives of draft Planning Policy Statement 14 are set out on page 19 of the published document.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Regional Development informed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of its decision to proceed with the Draft Planning Policy Statement 14. (107797)

During the development of draft PPS 14, DRD held discussions and corresponded with other Departments, including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. DARD was fully engaged during the policy development process and these discussions assisted in the preparation of the draft policy as published in March 2006.