HC Deb 09 May 2000 vol 349 cc627-9
1. Mr. Bob Blizzard (Waveney)

If he will revise planning guidance to encourage small-scale enterprise in rural areas. [120139]

The Minister for the Environment (Mr. Michael Meacher)

National planning policy guidance already encourages local planning authorities to plan positively for small-scale enterprises in rural areas. In preparing the rural White Paper, we are considering whether that guidance might be strengthened or clarified, consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

Mr. Blizzard

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. If we want a prosperous and sustainable countryside, there must be more opportunities for people to work there, rather than having to go off to towns and cities to work. If farmers are to diversify successfully, as we wish them to do under the rural development programme and rural enterprise schemes, planning guidance must encourage that, and not stand in the way.

Will my right hon. Friend visit St. Peter's brewery in my constituency? It is an outstanding example of rural enterprise, which produces an excellent product and is at one with its rural setting. However, when it was first established, it was in the face of planning, and not encouraged by planning. That example is an instance of Conservative policy, which seeks to preserve a picture postcard time-warp version of the countryside and does not promote a modern, working countryside.

Mr. Meacher

I am always willing to consider visiting my hon. Friends' constituencies—especially those that contain breweries. The performance and innovation unit report on rural areas suggested that planning was a barrier to diversification. However, analysis of responses to that report shows that some local planning authorities need better to interpret and implement national planning policies to encourage development to meet local needs. However, we are examining the matter and my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning is holding a seminar at the end of the month, which local stakeholders will attend, to see how the planning system can be improved to further assist farm diversification.

Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy)

The right hon. Gentleman referred to sustainable development. I am sure that greater clarity is needed in the planning process. As the hon. Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard) said, there is now a crisis in agriculture and in rural areas generally. I therefore urge the right hon. Gentleman to make it clear to planning authorities that there should be a presumption in favour of sustainable small and medium-sized developments.

Mr. Meacher

I am pleased to give that assurance. Policy planning guidance note 7 already gives strong encouragement to local planning authorities to provide for commercial development in their development plans, noting that many commercial and light manufacturing activities are acceptable in rural areas. The note encourages the reuse and adaptation of rural buildings and allows authorities to discriminate in favour of commercial—as opposed to residential—use. Such matters will certainly be raised in the seminar that I mentioned and the Government wish to take the matter further.

Mr. Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre)

I urge my right hon. Friend to give the strongest possible lead to local authorities on implementing sustainable employment schemes in rural areas. As he knows, some of us represent rural constituencies that were massively neglected by the previous Administration and rural Conservative Members for decades. The legacy of poverty, isolation and despair is something to behold and the Government need to act.

Mr. Meacher

We are introducing a rural White Paper soon—later this year—because we realise that rural regeneration, the breakdown of services, social exclusion and rural governance are all problems that were allowed to deteriorate badly under the Conservative Administrations of the past two decades. We believe that the White Paper will redress those problems in a visionary and practical way.

Mr. Damian Green (Ashford)

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that, in promoting business, he does not really care whether greenfields are destroyed? Yesterday, the Daily Express said that, in pursuing development, the Deputy Prime Minister thinks that greenfield—and even Green Belt—sites could have to be sacrificed and that There is no point in waxing lyrical about a green and pleasant land. Will he confirm that report? Does he agree that there is certainly no point doing so under the current Government? The only joined-up part of their environment policy is the sea of concrete that they want to pour over the green fields of England.

Mr. Meacher

The hon. Gentleman should not believe all that he reads in newspapers. Let me make it clear that, under the Labour Government, the area of green belt has extended considerably, and building on green belt, which was so noticeable under the previous Administration, has finally been reversed.