Rural Planning Policy (PPS 14)

Speech by David Ford questions the Environment Minister delivered to Assembly on Thu 25th Oct 2007

On behalf of my party, I thank the Minister for the content of her statement, particularly the recog­nition of the necessity of the precautionary approach at this stage, and her recognition of the courts' decision that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with PPS 14.

I want to correct a minor mistake that the Minister made when she said that prior to the restoration of devolution, parties on the Preparation for Government Committee agreed on the need for fundamental review. She will find that it was the four parties that were on the Programme for Government Committee that agreed on that; the fifth party, which was excluded from that Committee, most certainly did not agree.

First, given the current pressures on the Planning Service, particularly with regard to staffing, can the Minister tell the House what implications the decision will have on other planning policy statements that are currently the responsibility of the Department for Regional Development rather than the Department of the Environment? Secondly, what resources will be transferred as a result of today's statement? Lastly, what further resources may be needed in order to ensure that those other planning policy statements can also be dealt with properly?

Mrs Foster: The Member is absolutely right: that was, of course, a mistake - I should have said "the Programme for Government Committee". I recognise his party's view on the matter. I hope that my statement reflects all the views of all parties in the Chamber.

My Department is currently in discussion with DRD about which of the other planning policy statements that remain with it at present should be transferred and which resource allocations should follow them. Obviously, the regional development strategy will remain with DRD. However, the Departments are actively discussing what should happen to the other planning policy statements.