1. The Planning (Amendment) Bill (the Bill) was referred to the Committee for consideration in accordance with Assembly Standing Order 31(1) on completion of the Second Stage Reading of the Bill on 24 June 2002.

2. The Minister of the Environment (the Minister) made the following statement under Section 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3. The stated purpose of the Bill is as follows:

(i) simplify, streamline and strengthen the Department's existing enforcement powers and introduce some new enforcement powers;

(ii) improve control over development through a series of measures;

(iii) give prime importance to development plans in the determination of planning applications; and

(iv) provide the Planning Appeals Commission with greater operational flexibility.