HC Deb 23 November 1954 vol 533 cc1045-6
28 Mr. A. J. Irvine

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will publish annual statements classifying town and country planning appeals to the Minister in a form equivalent to that appearing in Table C in Command Paper No. 8204, the first of such statements to cover the years since 1951;

(2) whether, in view of the length of time which has elapsed since the last publication of the Bulletin of Selected Appeal Decisions in town and country planning matters, he will arrange to resume the publication of Minister's decisions in a suitable form;

(3) having regard to the decision announced on 19th January last to resume publication of annual reports on housing and town and country planning, when it is intended to issue such a report; and whether it will cover the years since 1951.

Mr. Sandys

I shall shortly be issuing a report which will cover the work of my Department during the years 1951 to 1954. The inclusion of the particulars for which the hon. Member asks is being considered.

Mr. Irvine

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that when he says that he will "shortly" be issuing this report, it will be "very shortly," having regard to the fact that the decision to issue a report was announced 10 months ago, and that three years' material is missing? Is he further aware that, as present legislation is making planning permission a very valuable commodity, a study of the contents of the report is a matter of great consequence to a large number of people, and that it is very important that the information contained in the former bulletin published by the Department should be provided again in fuller form?

Mr. Sandys

I am sure that the report will be a most valuable one, and that there will be no undue delay.