Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Monday, 19 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 October 2009. It was answered by Lord Austin of Dudley (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Sustainable Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable has been set for (a) the revised edition of Planning Policy Statement 4 and (b) the introduction of a competition test in retail planning.

Answer: The final version of Planning Policy Statement 4 will be published by the end of the year.On 2 October 2009, the Competition Commission recommended the introduction of a competition test into the planning system for planning applications by grocery retailers as a remedy to the adverse effect on competition it had identified. If adopted this would apply not only to England but to the devolved administrations. The Government has 90 days to respond to the Commission's report from the date of its publication.

Secondary information