Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to amend planning legislation to remove the right of appeal for applicants to open fast food take-away restaurants located in close proximity to schools which have been rejected by a planning committee.

We believe that any applicant who has been refused permission to develop their own land in a way that they would wish should have the option of an impartial appeal. We have no plans to remove existing rights of appeal.