HC Deb 06 December 1972 vol 847 cc1299-300

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

48. Mr. DOUGLAS JAY

TO ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received the report of the Layfield Panel of Inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan; and whether he will publish it at the earliest opportunity so that the public may study and comment on its findings.

Mr. Crosland

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Housing and Construction at Question Time referred to Question No. 48, which concerns the whole population of London very intimately. Will the Secretary of State, by leave of the House, answer that Question now?

Mr. Speaker

I have had no such request.

Mr. Rippon

I will happily answer the Question now if I have leave of the House to do so.

I expect to receive the report in the next few days. I cannot say when it will be published but it will be at the earliest possible date.

Mr. Crosland

May I take it—and I think that the reply means that the right hon. and learned Gentleman will publish the report—that he will do so before the Government announce any decisions on its major findings?

Mr. Rippon

We shall follow the proper statutory procedures.

Mr. Jay

As Question No. 48 stands in my name, perhaps I may ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether there is any reason why he should not say here and now that he will publish this extremely important report as soon as he receives it, as was done in the case of the report on the third London airport.

Mr. Rippon

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman fully understands the status of this report, although he has had a number of letters about it. It is a statutory development plan and I must follow the appropriate procedures. I thought it right to answer Question No. 48 now, having been invited to do so, because I appreciate that people want the report published as early as possible. Any suggestion that I am unwilling to publish it is quite unfounded.

Dame Irene Ward

On a point of order.

Mr. Speaker

Order. We shall first hear a statement, then a Standing Order No. 9 application, and then points of order.