To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of local planning authorities have had the core strategies of their Local Development Framework approved by the Government; and what her Department’s targets were for those strategies. (176596)

As of 4 February 2008, 22 core strategies have been found sound at independent examination. This represents 6 per cent. of all local authorities in England.

The cross governmental PSA no 20 on Housing Supply has as its sixth indicator

“Local Planning authorities to have adopted the necessary Development Plan Documents, in accordance with their Local Development Schemes, to bring forward developable land for housing in line with PPS3”.

The “national target” under this heading is

“By March 2011, 80 per cent of local planning authorities to have adopted the necessary Development Plan Documents, in accordance with their agreed Local Development Scheme”.

This is the Government’s target.