§ 14. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will use his powers to prevent any further encroachment on land zoned as green belt areas in the area of the Brierley Hill Urban District Council.
§ Mr. BevinsMy right hon. Friend attaches great importance to the preservation of green belts, but he must consider on their merits any proposals that may come before him to build in such areas.
§ Mr. SimmonsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that since the Conservatives have controlled the Staffordshire County Council speculative builders have been getting away with murder? Has his attention been drawn to the report in the Wolverhampton Express and Star of 13th June, of a meeting of the Brierley Hill Urban District Council, at which it was said that the "pressure boys" were at work on the county, and the county authority was succumbing to pressure put upon it by the landed interests? Will he look at that report if I send it to him?
§ Mr. BevinsI have not seen a copy of the report, but I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend has the interest of preserving green belts very much at heart. It would be wrong for me to comment upon these proposals at the moment.
§ Mr. MitchisonCan the hon. Gentleman state what considerations are borne in mind when deciding between the preservation of a green belt and the claim of a local builder to build on it?
§ Mr. BevinsThe main consideration is the public interest. If an area has been formally declared a green belt, or it is known that the local planning authority wishes it to be a green belt, it is usually respected. But exceptions are sometimes made for building in the public interest.