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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will urgently acknowledge the multiple call-in requests for Luton Council planning application reference 21/00031/VARCON, which would permit expansion of operations at Luton Airport; and if he will issue a Section 31 holding direction while he reviews these requests. .

Following receipt of a number of requests to call in this application to amend an existing permission, these will be considered against call-in policy, alongside the need for an Article 31 Direction, and a decision will be announced in due course.

Article 31 directions are an administrative tool which prevent local authorities from issuing a final decision on a planning application while advice on call-in requests is being prepared by officials and considered by Ministers. Once a decision on call-in has been made and communicated, the directions cease to have effect.