§ 77. Mr. BOYCEasked the Minister of Health the date on which his town planning department was set up; the cost per year since that date; the number of the present staff; and the duties carried out, by the department?
§ Mr. GREENWOODA division was set up by the late Local Government Board in 1910 to carry out the whole of the work arising under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909: a separate division for town planning only was not created until 1922. The duties of the town planning division comprise the consideration of questions of town planning policy, the approval of town planning schemes and matters incidental thereto. The staff at present numbers 26. The cost for each year since 1922 is approximately as follows:
… … … £ 1922–23 … … … 8,050 1923–24 … … … 8,300 1924–25 … … … 9,300 1925–26 … … … 10,600 1926–27 … … … 10,800 1927–28 … … … 12,500 1928–29 … … … 12,500 1929–30 … … … 13,200
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman stated on a recent public occasion that town planning was now out of date? If that be so, what is the point in keeping on this department at the public expanse?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI said that town planning alone was out of date. The proof of the value of this department is that it is considering regional planning as well.