To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have approved local development frameworks in place; and what progress has been made to ensure that all authorities have such frameworks in place. (265047)

‘Local development framework’ is the collective name for the various spatial planning-related documents that local planning authorities have prepared. To date the Planning Inspectorate has considered and found sound:

43 Core Strategies

30 Area Action Plans

Seven Site Allocation Policies

Seven Development Control Policies

11 Minerals and Waste Policies

Nine other plans dealing with specific themes

385 Statements of Community Involvement.

Supplementary Planning Documents do not need to be approved by the Planning Inspectorate and there is no central record of the number adopted.

The Government agree timetables for the delivery of plans (Local Development Schemes) with local authorities and hold regular discussions with them about progress. Sector-led support is provided through the Planning Advisory Service to authorities who decide they require assistance in the preparation of their plans and the Government also fund a programme of visits by Planning Inspectors to authorities to help with plan preparation.