HC Deb 24 January 1973 vol 849 cc430-1
2. Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the towns other than in the outer Metropolitan area where an approved or designated green belt is currently in existence.

The Minister for Local Government and Development (Mr. Graham Page)

There are approved or proposed green belts around or adjacent to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland; York; most of the towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire; Chesterfield; Merseyside, Chester and Manchester; Stoke-on-Trent; Nottingham and Derby; Birmingham and Coventry; Norwich; Cambridge, Cheltenham and Gloucester; Oxford; Bristol and Bath; and the coastal towns of Hampshire.

Dr. Stuttaford

That answer sounds most encouraging. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the country is sickened by the fact that we are becoming a profiteering plutocracy rather than a property-owning democracy and that we can cure this only if we release all the urban land before we start eroding the green belt areas, which are of value not only to countrymen but to urban or town dwellers?

Mr. Page

As my hon. Friend will know, I recently announced the policy with regard to the confirmation of the approved green belt and made it clear that large areas were, as it were, sacrosanct and approved so that developers should concentrate on the other areas.

Mr. Crosland

Many hon. Members will have sympathy with the right hon. Gentleman if he seeks properly to utilise all urban land, but how does he propose to deal with the scandalous case which has occurred in the last two or three days where the outer London borough of Barnet is refusing the hard-pressed inner London borough of Brent the possibility of using land in Barnet for desperately needed housing?

Mr. Page

If the right hon. Gentleman tables a Question on that matter I may be able to answer it. Every case must be tested on its merits, and my right hon. and learned Friend is in a quasi-judicial position in planning matters.

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