§ 2.32 p.m.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, now that the Covent Garden Market Bill has passed through all its Parliamentary stages, when will (a) the complete and detailed town plan layout he published; and (b) the various official authorities give the scheme the approval required: and whether a timetable has been made, and if not can such a document be prepared, of all the many stages the whole undertaking must pass through so that all the bodies 1003 and persons that will be affected may take any precautions necessary to prevent injury or the undesirable delays etc. which so frequently become associated with such extensive and complicated developments.]
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, I regret that I am not in a position to provide the information for which the noble Lord, Lord Bossom has asked. The preparation of the detailed town plan for the whole Covent Garden Area will be the responsibility of the London County Council. The detailed plan for the new Market will be the responsibility of the Covent Garden Market Authority. All the authorities concerned will be consulted in the preparation of these plans, and the protection afforded by the provisions of the Town and County Planning Acts will be available to all persons likely to be affected. It is not possible for Her Majesty's Government to fix the dates by which all the necessary action will be taken by these independent authorities, but I think I can assure the noble Lord that both the main parties concerned, the London County Council, as the planning authority and the Covent Garden Market Authority will be fully seized of the need for speed.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that rather incomplete Answer, may I ask whether he has any idea as to when the information asked for in the Question is likely to be available, no matter who has to provide it?
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that there will be very little delay in actually setting up the authority. But, of course, there is bound to be delay between the constitution day, that is to say, the day on which the Mattel Authority is set up, and vesting day, which is the date on which they can go into full action, so to speak. It has always been recognised that the first phase is not that of building the Market (that is the second phase of the operation) but to improve the conditions in and around the existing Market. The planning authority, the London County Council, and the Covent Garden Market Authority will have to co-operate on producing the plans which the noble Lord wishes to have; it is not in the hands of Her Majesty's Govern- 1004 ment. Naturally, under the Town and Country Planning Acts all the necessary notice will be given by publication; the plans will be available for inspection and full operation of the Town and Country Planning Acts will occur when these plans are ready. I am afraid that I cannot give the noble Lord any more definite reply than that.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree that the first stage after the Covent Garden Market Authority has been set up is for the Authority to come to a decision whether or not it is going to build the Market in the Covent Garden Area, and, if not, to go to the Minister and tell him so?
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, that supplementary, I must confess, is not altogether unexpected, but I would point out to the noble Lord that this question was debated at every stage of the Bill when it went through your Lordships' House, and, in particular, I would refer the noble Lord to column 281 of the OFFICIAL REPORT of the Report stage on July 13 and to the words of my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor on the subject.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that it is precisely because the words of the noble and learned Viscount are graven on my mind that I asked for his agreement that the first stage is what I said it was?
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, seeing that so many people will be affected by this situation, and that there is such a liability to injury, financially and otherwise, if this matter is not looked after in a comprehensive way, will the noble Lord make it his business to see that the information is made public as soon as it can be?—because it is rather undesirable that a matter of this comprehensive character should wait and cause injury to so many people.
§ LORD HASTINGSMy Lords, I have already said, and I repeat, that the consultations that take place will ensure that everybody will be aware of what is proposed. They will then be able to take such precautions as they think desirable, or to make objections. Furthermore, if land is to be acquired by compulsory purchase, the usual protection available to the owners of such land under the 1005 town and country planning law would be available, and naturally the Minister himself will come into the matter.
§ LORD BOSSOMMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that information, for I am sure that it will give a lot of advice to many people who have not already got it.