§ 6. Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in having up-to-date statutory development plans for all areas.
§ Mr. AtkinsWith the exception of the Craigavon district council area and the rural areas of Newtownabbey and Castlereagh, all parts of Northern Ireland are covered by statutory development plans. A plan for the Newtownabbey area is being prepared at present and it is intended to start work on plans for the Craigavon and Castlereagh areas later this year.
§ Mr. TrimbleWe have had a statutory framework for town and country planning in Northern Ireland for 20 years. However, as the Minister said, there is still no statutory development plan in Craigavon. Does the Minister agree that informal, non-statutory plans of dubious standing are no substitute and that we need a formal plan as soon as possible with a clear Government commitment to the development of Craigavon and especially the regeneration of Lurgan town centre?
§ Mr. AtkinsThe hon. Gentleman has been assiduous in representing the cause of his constituents, particularly following the damage to Lurgan after that dreadful bomb. He has been to see me and, as he knows, I have met representatives of the council. I am very conscious of the deficiency to which I referred in my main answer and I will do what I can to ensure that the problems of the hon. Gentleman's constituents, and of Lurgan in particular, are addressed as soon as possible.