§ 2.49 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF LINDSEY AND ABINGDONMy 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 why the Minister of Housing and Local Government decided not to confirm a direction which would have given the Berkshire County Council planning control over the building by the Southern Gas Board of a 128 ft. high gasholder in the centre of Abingdon.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)My Lords, my right honourable friend has to-day confirmed the direction submitted to him by the Berkshire County Council.
§ THE EARL OF LINDSEY AND ABINGDONMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that very encouraging reply. But, in view of the intense public interest shown in this particular case, will the Government in future consider introducing legislation whereby statutory undertakings are brought under the same stringent planning control as private undertakings?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, the present arrangements governing the duty of statutory undertakings to obtain planning permission are, as the House knows, some years old, and, like other aspects of the planning system which are some years old, they are under continuous review.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, whose own concern for matters of architectural beauty we all recognise, whether he is aware that the Answer he has given to the Question will give great satisfaction? May I further ask him whether he recognises that the present proposals of the Gas Board would do great injury to a lovely old town of outstanding value, and that, 9 no matter what anybody else thought about it, that could not be a matter of indifference to Her Majesty's Government? May I ask him, finally, whether they have sought the advice in this matter of the Royal Fine Art Commission?
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, the pros and cons of the particular case of the gasholder at Abingdon are complicated and rather nicely balanced. I think I am right in saying that so far as my right honourable friend is concerned he has not himself sought the advice of the Royal Fine Art Commission.