§ 22. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will make a statement on the recently published North-East Development Plan drawn up by Sir George Pepler and Mr. P. W. MacFarlane.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning (Mr. King)The plan for the North-East Development Area was prepared by the consultants at my request. Its primary function will be to assist the planning authorities in the North-East in surveying their areas and preparing development plans, as required by the Town and Country Planning Act. 1947. A limited number of copies of an interim edition of the plan have already been duplicated and distributed to the local authorities and Government departments concerned, to Members for local constituencies, and to the Press, and in due course a printed edition will be issued for sale to the public. Meanwhile my right hon. Friend has asked the local planning authorities to send him their comments when they have had an opportunity of examining the consultants' proposals.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIn order that there may be no conflict between the overall plan and the individual plans required from each authority under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, would my hon. Friend ask his right hon. Friend to set up a joint planning authority to co-ordinate all the different plans?
§ Brigadier ThorpIs there mention of Berwick-upon-Tweed and the north of Northumberland in this plan?
§ Brigadier ThorpWhy not?
§ Mr. TurtonDo I understand that the Minister has approved or disapproved of this plan?
§ Mr. KingThe Minister has not yet given any decision. The matter is under consideration. He is seeking the views of the local authorities, who now have a copy of the plan.