§ 66. Sir P. Harrisasked the Minister of Health in how many cases within the London and Home Counties area the responsible authorities have acted upon either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of Sub-section (2) of Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, with the purpose of controlling sporadic building; and whether he is satisfied that the legal powers of the local authorities under this or any other Act are adequate to control such sporadic building?
§ Sir K. WoodI have no information in how many cases responsible authorities under operative planning schemes have acted under Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, as such cases would come to me only on an appeal against the authority's refusal of permission. Local authorities possess full powers to deal with sporadic building in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
§ Sir P. HarrisWould the right hon. Gentleman, in his capacity as Minister of Health, endeavour to collect this information in order to find out how far the Act has been functioning in Greater London?
§ Sir K. WoodAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the Act has been in operation only a short time. I shall be glad to consider the suggestion after a little further interval has elapsed.
§ Sir P. HarrisIs it not essential to town planning that there should be immediate and proper action, and that while the right hon. Gentleman is waiting considerable damage may be done?
§ Sir K. WoodI am not waiting. The hon. Baronet asked whether I would collect certain information, and I said I would not trouble the local authorities.
§ Sir P. HarrisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public wants to know whether the local authorities are doing their duty and that we want the right hon. Gentleman to find out whether they are doing so?
§ Sir K. WoodNo, Sir; it is not the public who want to know: it is the hon. Baronet.