§ 23. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the report of the official inquiry into the Easington Town Plan; whether he has considered the special position of Haswell and South Hetton; and if he will grant permission to the Easington Rural District Council to meet the demand for housing in those places.
§ Mr. BrookeI am still considering this report on the inquiry into the proposed town map. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the extent to which houses should be built at Haswell and South Hetton is one of the main questions raised by the town map. I cannot decide it apart from the town map as a whole.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn the course of his replies to Questions, the right hon. Gentleman has frequently referred to the responsibilities of local authorities. Is he aware that this is a case where the local authority, while being responsible for housing in the area, is precluded from undertaking the task because of intervention by the planning committee of the Durham County Council? Will he take these factors into consideration when he is considering the report?
§ Mr. BrookeParliament sometimes lays upon me the obligation to hold the balance fairly between one local authority and another. In this case, as 761 the right hon. Gentleman knows, there was a public inquiry about two months ago. I want to take into consideration everything put to me at that public inquiry before reaching a decision.
§ Mr. ShinwellWill the Minister take into account that I have represented this constituency for 26 years and I probably know as much about the housing needs of the population as even the planning committee of the county council?
§ Mr. BrookeI have very great regard for the right hon. Gentleman's knowledge of his constituency, but I do not think that he would wish me to defy the law and fail to give proper consideration to everything which was argued on both sides at a public local inquiry.