HC Deb 24 January 1973 vol 849 cc445-6
12. Mr. S. James A. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now give further details of the progress in preparing regional planning strategies in each region of the country.

Mr. Graham Page

As the answer is long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Hill

My right hon. Friend has given me no ammunition to fire back at him——

Mr. Speaker

Order. I must remind hon. Members that supplementary questions are not compulsory.

Following is the information: The present position on the preparation of regional strategies in each region is as follows: South East The Strategic Plan for the South East was approved in principle by the Government in October 1971. A working group is engaged on monitoring and review arrangements. North West The planning team drawn from central government and local authorities is working to produce the strategy in 1973. Northern I am to meet members of the North Regional Planning Committee—representing the local authorities—and the Economic Planning Council later this month to commission the strategy study of the region. West Midlands A draft strategy commissioned by the West Midlands Planning Authorities Conference was published for comment in September 1971. The conference reviewed the proposals in the light of comments made and resubmitted them, as modified, in November 1972. Yorkshire and Humberside A strategy to 1981 prepared by the planning council was generally endorsed by the Government in July 1971. Further studies are being carried out by the council and the planning authorities. The preparation of a longer-term regional strategy will be deferred until after local government reorganisation. East Anglia A team drawn from central Government and local authorities is working with a view to completing the strategy this year. South West The South West Economic Planning Council proposes to publish a population and settlement pattern strategy for the region under the title "A Strategic Settlement Pattern for the South West" this year. East Midlands Local authorities are co-operating through the East Midlands Regional Development Conference in studying the region by means of three sub-regional studies. On the basis of this work the Economic Planning Council's study "Opportunity in the East Midlands" will be revised in order to produce an up-to-date outline strategy.