§ 4. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchisonasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, in view of the concern about the working of Parts V, VI and VII of the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act, he will consider the appointment of an expert committee to reconsider the financial provisions of the Act in the light of the experience gained.
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir.
§ Colonel HutchisonDo the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend recognise that protests from most influential bodies in this country have already been made pointing out that the 171 present system is a deterrent to development, and does not that in any way weigh with him and his right hon. Friend?
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir. I do not accept that they were protests. We were very grateful to such bodies as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute who, after having seen the Act in operation, have given their considered opinion. Their opinion is examined in the light of circumstances, and changes are made as and when necessary.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonDoes that mean that the Minister is contemplating legislation to put right some of the admitted anomalies of the Act, or are we to continue indefinitely as we are?
§ Mr. LindgrenAs far as small matters are concerned, evidence has been given by my right hon Friend in the Regulations he has introduced. As to radical alterations, the present Parliamentary situation does not allow them to be made.
§ Mr. HarrisonDoes my hon. Friend recognise that concern with the financial provisions of the Act is merely a repetition of the objection to the fundamentals of the Measure experienced when the Bill was passing through the House?