§ Q4. Mr. Grimondasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co- 202 ordination between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Trade and Industry over the control of pipelines in connection with oil and shipping installations.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. GrimondIf the Prime Minister is satisfied, may I ask who is responsible for planning below high water mark and whether mooring buoys, for instance, come under the Department of the Environment, as they are on or near the surface of the sea, whereas pipelines appear to be a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely correct in what he says about the different responsibilities for these matters. We must deal with them either by saying that only one Department will be responsible for the whole of these matters—this applies not only to Zetland but to the whole of the United Kingdom—or by having a system of co-ordination between the authorities involved in the different aspects of planning. Co-ordination is carried out by the Departments, but for Scotland it has been agreed that it should be carried out direct at regional level. I hope that will assist the right hon. Gentleman in the interests that he has at heart in producing a more speedy conclusion.
§ Mr. Sydney ChapmanDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the question raised by the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) is a classic example of taking the delicate balance between the environment, on the one hand, and the economy, on the other hand, and that the real solution to the problem is to ensure that the local planning authorities have properly qualified environmental advisers who can look at the whole matter instead of simply appearing to see that on one occasion commercialism conquers conservation or vice versa on another occasion?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend. I think that the reform of local government in Scotland, because of the change in the size of the units involved which that brings about, will enable greater resources to be made available to local authorities so that they have better advice in keeping this 203 balance. But under our system, which is accepted over the whole country, it is a matter for elected local authorities to take the decisions.
§ Mr. GrimondMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman—[Interruption.]—to clarify one point? Is he saying that under the new Act the regional authorities in Scotland will be empowered to plan below high water mark?
§ Mr. McNamaraOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps I may raise this matter at the end of Question Time.
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the right hon. Gentleman has misunderstood what I said. Whereas there are Departments which are responsible for these matters, in particular the DTI, the DOE and the Scottish Office itself, instead of co-ordination taking place at headquarters departmental level it will now take place at the regional level of the Department concerned.