34. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet approved the Essex Development Plan; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have nearly completed my consideration of the plan but, as explained in reply to my hon. Friend on 26th February, the maps will require revision before the plan can be formally approved. Lists of corrections and proposed modifications to most of the town maps have already been given to the county council, whose officers have started the revision; but this is bound to take some time.
Mr. HarrisonWhilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, and as he probably remembers that in his last Answer he said that it would be a matter of a few weeks, may I ask him whether he could not expedite it, since the entire future planning of Essex is held up until this plan is approved by himself?
§ Mr. BrookeI did not say that my formal approval could be given within a few weeks, but I pointed out in my previous Answer that the maps would require revision in the light of my decisions. I am extremely anxious to get this plan formally approved as soon as practicable, and I am doing all in my power.
§ Mr. SnowWhen this development plan is produced, may we assume that the Minister will have consulted the Board of Trade, so that there will not be reproduced in Essex what has occurred in Surrey, namely, confusion about the granting of industrial development certificates?
§ Mr. BrookeThis Question refers exclusively to Essex.