asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 12 May (WA 112), why they do not monitor centrally whether local planning authorities have design review panels. [HL3772]

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment's (CABE) remit from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is to manage the national design review service and support the regional design review panels. The CABE also provides support for all design review panels through its publications and DVDs. We are pleased to see the recent growth in local panels, which demonstrates an increasing willingness to ensure local quality of design. The CABE is working to identify whether its existing business plan contains the necessary resources to monitor local design review panels.