§ 2. Mr. Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation preventing a member of a planning committee sitting on an application for planning consent for ground or property which he has purchased less than five years before the date of the application.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. David Gibson-Watt)No, Sir. I consider that the present law relating to the disclosure of direct or indirect pecuniary interest by members of local authorities is adequate.
§ Mr. EllisDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that there is cause for public anxiety when a member of a planning committee is present, even though he does not take part in the discussion, during a discussion leading to the granting of planning permission for ground he has acquired recently, thereby increasing the value of the property by scores of thousands of pounds?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattMembers of local authorities were reminded of their statutory obligation in this respect in the Welsh Office Circular 85/72 issued in May. If a particular case concerns the hon. Gentleman, perhaps he will write to me about it, or it is open to him, if he believes that the statutory requirements 1153 have been contravened, to draw the attention of the police to the alleged offence.