asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider removing planning fees completely because of the counter-productive effect they are having on an already depressed building industry.

I have no proposals to abolish fees for planning applications and appeals. In general, the level of fee involved is very modest and could not be considered an undue imposition on the building industry. My Department have, however, almost completed a review of the fees system and I will be considering the results with a view to deciding whether changes in some aspects of the system should be made.

Will the Minister of State tell the House how much money has been collected by the local authorities since planning fees were introduced?

I have not that information in my brief so I am afraid I cannot give it to the Deputy. I will send it to him.

I was involved in introducing the legislation on planning fees. In his review does the Minister of State anticipate changing the overall charge for larger applications which is a disincentive to the construction industry as worked out by the multiplier of £30 per house? Is that included in his review, or is it merely on the appeals side that he is looking at it? Can he tell us exactly how he is looking at it?

I am looking at the whole ambit of it. If it is a disincentive it will have to be looked at very hard.

It is a disincentive.