HC Deb 29 June 1948 vol 452 c1988
25. Mr. Vane

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning which members of the Committee appointed under the chairmanship of Sir George Schuster have any special knowledge or experience of agriculture and country planning.

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

This Committee is not intended to be representative of the various interests affected by town and country planning. My right hon. Friends thought we should get a better result by appointing a Committee of persons with experience of public affairs. I do not doubt that the Committee will take evidence from many quarters and that it will have particular regard to the interests of agriculture and country planning.

Mr. Vane

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the agricultural industry is of the opinion that the Committee could achieve better results if more of its members knew something about agriculture, and is he not aware that the majority of the members of this Committee, though they probably have a very wide knowledge of town and suburban planning, know little of the countryside?

Mr. King

I do not accept the last remark made by the hon. Gentleman, but the purpose of the Committee is educational—to discuss training.