To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance from his Department is in effect in respect of on-going (a) examinations in public of local development framework plans and (b) core strategy hearings.

General guidance on the assessment of and procedures for examining local development frameworks which include core strategies is set out by the Planning Inspectorate. This can be found online at:

http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/appeals/local_dev/index.htm

In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all local authority leaders and the Planning Inspectorate confirming the Government's intention to abolish regional strategies and housing targets and saying that he expects them to have regard to his letter as a material consideration in decisions on applications and local development frameworks. A copy of the letter has been placed in the House Library.