HC Deb 06 February 1974 vol 868 cc1197-8
6. Mr. Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make his promised statement concerning the Greater London Development Plan and, in particular, his conclusion as to the optimum size London should be in terms of population.

The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Geoffrey Rippon)

I will make a statement as soon as possible.

Mr. Atkinson

I am sure the Secretary of State remembers saying that on two previous occasions. When is "as soon as possible"? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware also that there are different understandings between planning officers in the London boroughs and planning officers employed by the GLC and that there is a difference of as much as a million in population between the ideas held by those various officials? Has not the time arrived when the Department itself must come to a conclusion about the optimum size of London in order that we may have effective planning in terms of housing, roads and the other necessary environmental services?

Mr. Rippon

By "as soon as possible" I mean before long. I am aware of the hon. Gentleman's interest in this matter and of the differences of opinion. When I made my initial statement I said that I agreed broadly with the Layfield Panel but that there should be an updating of the population forecasts and that the GLC should keep the matter under continuous review. There has been a change in control at County Hall, and the GLC has been a little slow in making its various observations. I must give it time to sort itself out a little better. But I agree that I shall have to make a statement before long.

Mr. Stanbrook

Is not the population of London decreasing? Should not we examine closely all applications for housing development in green belt areas surrounding London?

Mr. Rippon

That is one of the factors to be borne in mind. As I said, the Government will have to consider this in the light of regional strategy. At the time when the Layfield Panel ended its inquiry, however, it expected a labour surplus in London because that was at a time when there was no growth and employment prospects were bad. The situation is now different. There is a shortage of skilled and semi-skilled labour. I made some reference to this in our debate yesterday. I think that we ought to concentrate more than we have in the past on providing housing and work in the cities, thus avoiding unnecessary commuting and the loss of skilled labour. That is the way to avoid excessive overspill schemes.