HL Deb 05 December 1966 vol 278 cc893-5

2.40 p.m.

LORD CHORLEY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will now take special steps to preserve the rural nature of the Chalk Downs in Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire, in view of the possible large-scale growth of population at Swindon and near Southampton.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, before I answer this Question, may I apologise to the noble Lord and to the House for having inadvertently misled them last week, when I said at Question Time [col. 791, 1/12/1966] that the Minister of Public Building and Works was bound to be consulted on the erection of high buildings within 50 yards of Royal Parks and Palaces. The distance is not 50 yards, but half-a-mile.

In answer to the Question to-day, I would say that the reports of the consultants on both proposals mentioned by the noble Lord draw attention to this problem, which is in the first instance a matter for the county councils in exercise of their powers as local planning authorities to control development. I am glad to be able to tell the House that extensive stretches of these Downs are already shown as areas of great landscape value in the counties' approved development plans, on which decisions on development control are, of course, based. My right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government would naturally be very ready to consider any proposals put to him for further protection of this important stretch of countryside and he is himself considering the planning implications.

LORD CHORLEY

My Lords, may I first of all thank my noble friend for his supplementary answer from last week, which is reassuring. I must confess that I was a little shattered by the "50 yards" answer. May I also thank him for his Answer to-day? So far as it goes, it will no doubt be well received, but I should like him to remember—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: No; ask a question!

LORD CHORLEY

Well, my Lords, will the noble Lord remember, or does he remember, that most of this area was surveyed by the Hobhouse Committee on National Parks, with a view to its being made a National Park? And if it has not been made a National Park, what he said shows that it is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Would not the Minister consider referring to the National Parks Commission the question of whether at any rate a large part of this area should be made an area of outstanding natural beauty? I wonder whether my noble friend could tell me this. There have been rumours that areas of outstanding natural beauty are no longer to be prescribed. Could he reassure us on that ground, because these areas are of great importance?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I remember, and will continue to remember, the Hobhouse Committee's view of these areas. I am not sure whether it would be appropriate for my noble friend to take the initiative with the National Parks Commission about a further area of outstanding natural beauty there. Far from the designation of areas of outstanding beauty being a thing of the past, it is very much in use. The last designation, in the Cotswolds, occurred only in August of this year.

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, as the county councils concerned are the planning authorities, can my noble friend tell us briefly the extent of their powers?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, as an area of high landscape value or of outstanding natural beauty, a given tract of country does not enjoy greater protection from unwanted development than if it does not have either status. In certain cases it attracts 75 per cent. grant from the Exchequer for certain operations of beautification. The planning situation, however, is the same as if there were no special position.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, could the noble Lord say how much pressure is brought to bear on local authorities in these areas to accept overspill from London? Is this policy a matter for their decision or are they being brought under very considerable pressure to accept overspill, whether the inhabitants wish it or not?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, this is rather a different question, but it is my understanding the overspill arrangements are dealt with directly between the local authorities in the exporting town or conurbation and the importing areas.