HC Deb 30 April 1957 vol 569 c12
20. Mr. Peyton

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to be able to make a decision on the Somerset County Development Plan.

Mr. H. Brooke

As I explained in reply to my hon. Friend on 14th March, I shall be ready to give my formal approval to the plan when the maps have been revised to give effect to modifications which I intend to make. This work is being undertaken by the county council and I cannot say when it will complete it, though I am sure it will do it as quickly as it can.

Mr. Peyton

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is quite wrong that this plan, which is some years old, should still be incomplete and that, as a result, it should be the reason for obstructing very much-needed hospital development in my constituency? I realise that he has no direct responsibility in the matter, but will he please use his best offices to get the matter speeded up?

Mr. Brooke

I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be no exceptional delay in the final approval of the Somerset plan. As regards the hospital to which he refers, I have made some inquiries and have assured myself that no delay can be caused, at any rate at the present time, by the current position as regards the development plan.