To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to publish the final regional spatial strategy for the South West before the end of June 2009. (279573)

We intended to issue the final regional spatial strategy for the South West at the end of June. However, on 20 May, the High Court issued a judgment that the previously issued regional spatial strategy for the East of England had failed to meet certain requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, in respect of three towns. My Department and the Government Office for the South West are considering the implications for the regional spatial strategy for the South West, but cannot reach a clear view until the written judgment is issued by the Court. It is not possible to set a new timetable, until the implications of the judgment have been clarified, and what action is required, if any.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements there are on him to consult on revisions to a regional spatial strategy. (279926)

PPS 11: Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) sets out the requirements for the Secretary of State to consult on revisions to a RSS, refer to Table 1: Summary of the RSS Revision Process page 24 .

Once the Secretary of State receives the Panel Report prepared by the independent Chair of the Enquiry in Public, the Secretary of State then drafts the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes to the RSS, which is then subject to a eight-week public consultation process, prior to the issue of the final RSS by the Secretary of State.