7. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of housing needs, he will give an assurance that he will not sanction the use of planning powers by the Central Electricity Generating Board to prevent the erection of caravan sites in the vicinity of their generating stations.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Sir Keith Joseph)The Central Electricity Generating Board has no powers to control development near its generating stations. This is a matter for the local planning authorities. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power are, however, arranging that they should both be consulted by the local planning authorities before permission for certain kinds of development near nuclear power stations is given.
Mr. HarrisonThere seems to be a farcical situation growing up here. Will my hon. Friend look into it? The board is buying out potential caravan sites near nuclear power stations. Is it not high time that there was a reappraisal of planning, building and normal development near these sorts of structure?
§ Sir K. JosephI must repeat that the Electricity Generating Board has no power of control in the planning sense. Control rests with the planning authorities. My right hon. Friend proposes to give some guidance to planning authorities on the matter in the near future.