Examination of witnesses (Questions 260
- 267)
WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL 2000
MR MIKE
HASLAM, MR
SIMON BIRCH,
MR PETER
WILBRAHAM and MR
DAVID ROSE
260. Is there a variation?
(Mr Haslam) If there was more information about the
time taken for the Secretary of State decisions, that would emerge.
(Mr Rose) I can offer you a particular proposal that
we have put to the Department. You asked the union earlier about
how they find out about government planning information. Last
year, after representation by us, the Department introduced a
website listing all the Department's planning guidance and information.
We have been pushing them to include on that website information
on the progress of appeals and applications subject to call-in
and with the timescales on so that people can see more clearly
across the country what are the cases which are being called in
and which are the reasons, as opposed to simply waiting until
the Secretary of State's decision eventually trickles through
a year or so later.
261. Have you made any other representations
about these problems? Who would you make them to?
(Mr Haslam) We have certainly raised it in our various
meetings with the Department which we have from time to time.
Mr Blunt
262. What practical measures has your liaison
and planning inspector brought with regard to recruiting more
women and people from ethnic minorities into the Inspectorate?
(Mr Rose) For the practical outcomes, you will have
to ask the Chief Planning Inspector next week, because he has
the most recent figures in terms of recruitment. One that I know
about, and was referred to by Mrs Burden earlier, is the way in
which the Inspectorate has looked at its recruitment literature.
They found that the previous recruitment literature they had sent
out to would be candidates suggested they would need to be prepared
to travel, be away from home frequently, carry out unaccompanied
site visits. They had a good look at it and came to the conclusion
it was probably a little bit harsh and they were not presenting
a positive image. They have reviewed that information to make
it clear now that the requirements for the Inspectorate are not
so unsuitable for women. They have also looked very carefully
at the role of making better use of women as role models within
the Inspectorate. It is partly also an age issue. 50 per cent
of those students on planning courses now are women. As the percentage
works its way through, the issue of more women in the profession
will definitely be addressed. In terms of ethnic minorities, I
was involved in a piece of work the Institute did with the Commission
for Racial Equality 20 years ago which raised concerns about the
role of ethnic matters in the planning process and it has to be
said that, despite the Institute's best efforts over the years,
we have so far failed to attract enough members of ethnic minorities
into the profession. We think this perhaps reflects questions
of the public perception about the regard in which planning is
held. We are convinced that those groups who have come into the
employment market more recently have chosen those careers which
appear to be those which are most highly regarded. We are quite
convinced that if planning was held in high regard and its outputs
were that it would play a major role in helping the Institute
in its efforts to encourage ethnic minorities to think of planning
as a career they would like to be in.
Chairman
263. How do the Planning Inspectorate rates
of pay compare with the people generally in the profession? Are
they sufficient to attract good people to go into the Planning
Inspectorate?
(Mr Haslam) My perception is that they are not high
enough for the level of work they do. Certainly I was not attracted
to the Inspectorate a few years ago when I might have been of
that age—I am too old now—partly on the salary reason.
264. Is it a good thing that a good proportion
of planning inspectors are in a second career and they still have
an income from their first career in that they were made redundant
from local government or something like that?
(Mr Birch) I think it is important that they are experienced.
The point was made earlier this morning about them having ten
years' experience or whatever. That is extremely important.
265. Part of the argument about the government's
position that there is no shortage and therefore the pay level
must be right is that quite a lot of people are seeing it as a
second career which does not have to support them and their families
totally.
(Mr Haslam) I do not personally have enough information.
That is something the chief inspector may be able to help you
with.
Mr Blunt
266. Do you think there is any hope that the
Inspectorate will go on strike indefinitely?
(Mr Haslam) You must ask the inspectors that. I do
not know.
Chairman
267. What do you think the outcome of a dispute
would be? Would it cause major problems?
(Mr Haslam) All the appeals in the system would simply
stop and that is not good for anybody.
(Mr Birch) There would be a lot of pressure from developers
to get it sorted quickly
Mr Blunt: It would be rather good for the people
who had the decision upheld by their local authority but the local
authority overruled.
Chairman: On that note, can I thank you very
much for your evidence?
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