HC Deb 26 February 1946 vol 419 cc1715-6
1. Mr. Quintin Hogg

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether his attention has been drawn to the correspondence between the Nuffield Organisation, the Pressed Steel Company, Limited, and the Oxford City Council, with regard to the location of industry; and whether he has any statement to make.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Fred Marshall)

My attention has been drawn to this correspondence, which raises important and difficult issues of industrial and planning policy which will be fully considered as soon as further necessary information is available. I am not, however, able to make any statement at present.

Mr. Hogg

While I appreciate the difficulties in which the hon. Gentleman finds himself, will he bear in mind the desirability of not pre-judging the work undertaken by the town planning authority, and will he also agree that it is not the policy of the Government for large industries to leave large sites entirely at their own caprice?

Mr. Marshall

Yes, Sir, I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that before anything final is decided the local planning committee will be taken into consultation, and the Minister will have the other considerations in mind.

Sir Arthur Salter

Would the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to bear in mind the undesirability of industrial developments so situated as to increase the already great congestion in Oxford city?

Mr. Marshall

That consideration is very much in our minds.