17. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the study for south-east England which he has commissioned includes consideration of the optimum size of new and extended towns in the area.
§ Mr. CorfieldYes, Sir, but in matters of this kind practical considerations on the ground may prove more important.
Mrs. ButlerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister's approach to Stevenage and Harlow to consider expansion, and the suggestion that Stevenage should expand to a population of 140,000, are matters of very great planning concern? Is he further aware that it is necessary to fix an optimum size for new towns if the present tendency of new towns like Stevenage and Crawley to sprawl into neighbouring built-up areas is to be checked? Do 1103 we not need to provide a greater number of additional, compact and separate new towns?
§ Mr. CorfieldYes, but one cannot afford to be dogmatic about size. We must look at this town by town. Certainly this applies to existing towns, whose potentialities for expansion vary very greatly. Among other factors are size and the proximity to other towns.
§ Mr. CorfieldNo, Sir.