§ 14. Mr. Barnesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now say when the report of the Layfield panel of inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan will be published.
§ 20. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received the report of the Layfield inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponI received the report of the panel of inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan on 18th December 1972 and have sent it to the printers.
§ Mr. BarnesDoes the Secretary of State agree that it is highly desirable from the point of view of democracy in London that the GLC election campaign should be as fully informed as possible, which it will be if the report is published? Does he also agree that there is no legal impediment to his publishing it before he takes any decisions on it?
§ Mr. RipponThat is quite correct. I sent it to the printers with a view to early publication. As soon as it is printed it will be published.
§ Mr. DavisWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman indicate to the House what plans he has for discussions with the London boroughs, the London Boroughs Association and the Greater London Council on the basis of the report?
§ Mr. RipponIt would be wise to await publication of the report. I would hope then to make some preliminary observations about it. But it is a very long and complex document, raising vast issues. I am sure that there will be, and will need to be, considerable public discussion and that when the report is published the House and the public will realise what an important contribution the Layfield panel has made.