§ 10. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many planning appeals in the last two years he has granted which reversed the decision of a local authority not to agree to the zoning of land for private speculative building; and how many acres were involved.
§ Mr. YoungerNine, involving 166 acres.
§ Mr. EadieThe hon. Gentleman must be aware that, in the teeth of opposition from my local authority, his right hon. Friend granted planning permission in respect of an area which that authority had zoned as green belt. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that when his right hon. Friend decides to override the wishes of a local authority in this day and age, when housing costs are so high, he is not only giving planning permission to private developers to build but, at today's costs, also giving them a licence to print money?
§ Mr. YoungerAll such applications which come before my right hon. Friend are considered on the same basis one with another. They are considered in the light of the circular sent to local authorities in 1967 giving guidance on the way in which they should approach this kind of problem. I do not think this is an excessive total. A total of 166 acres has been allowed as a result of appeals, but no fewer than 1,500 acres are required to be zoned each year for private house developments. The most important thing is to get as much private development going as possible to meet the vast demand by people who wish to buy their own homes.
§ Mr. YoungerI could not answer that question without notice, but I do not think that 166 acres out of the usual annual zoning of 1,500 acres is a very large amount.