§ 40 and 41. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Health (1) whether any extra officials will be required in his Department in the event of the Town and Country Planning Bill passing into law; and, if so, how many;
(2) the estimated expenditure which, would be caused to his Department and to local authorities, respectively, by the passing of the Town and Country Planning Bill?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Ernest Brown)It is not possible at the present stage to give any estimate. Some increase in the staff in charge of town planning will be requisite, hut my right hon. Friend does not anticipate any increase in the staff of the Ministry as a whole. In the case of local authorities, he would expect that the savings from planning ahead will exceed any expenditure.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEAm I to understand that in this time of financial stringency no consideration has been given to the cost; and has any allowance been made to local authorities under Section 135 of the Local Government Act?
§ Mr. BROWNAs the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, this Act is a matter of guarding the heritage of the nation not merely with regard to amenity but with regard to economy as well.
§ Lieut. - Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEDoes the hon. Gentleman really think that it is economy when he knows that it will cost the country a very large sum of money?