§ 8. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will undertake a survey of the amount of originally-scheduled Green Belt land which has been converted for housing or industrial purposes in the past five years.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNo, Sir. The work involved would be very considerable, and difficult to justify.
§ Mr. SmithDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that this information is absolutely essential if we are not finally to have a great jungle between here and Birmingham and Manchester? In view of the provisions of the Redcliffe-Maude Report, does he not think it important that this information should be readily forthcoming?
§ Mr. RobinsonThe Department has information about the number but not the acreage of planning permissions given 1201 by local planning authorities in approved green belts, and similar information about planning appeals in approved green belts, but it is the job of the planning authorities strictly to control development in green belts. I agree that they should have the information, but it is not so important that it should be held centrally.