5. Mr. Coleģateasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what powers his Ministry possesses with regard to preserving buildings and sites which can be 2168 regarded as of national importance in contra-distinction to those which concern more peculiarly the local authority in which they may be situated.
§ The Minister of Town and Country Planninģ (Mr. W. S. Morrison)Apart from the limited power which I have under Section 17 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, to approve an Order made by a local authority for the preservation of a building of special architectural or historic interest, I have at present no power to preserve an existing building. The provision of further powers for this purpose is under consideration in connection with future legislation. In regard to sites, the existing Acts empower me to prevent the development of any site for a purpose inconsistent with national requirements but do not enable me to secure its use for a particular purpose.
Mr. ColeģateDoes my right hon. and learned Friend agree that it is desirable that his Department should take powers in the sense indication in the Question?
§ Mr. MorrisonI will gladly consider that.