HL Deb 22 November 1967 vol 286 cc1039-40

2.20 p.m.

VISCOUNT GAGE

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 accept the Report entitled A Strategy for the South-East as a basis for discussion; and, if so, which Government Department will initiate such discussion, and whether it will issue formal invitations relating to the making of representations.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the Report has been submitted by the South-East Economic Planning Council to the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and will now be considered by all Departments concerned. The Secretary of State will in due course advise the Council of the Government's views. The Council have stated that they would welcome the comments of any interested bodies or individuals.

VISCOUNT GAGE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply. I do not know whether he is aware that for over six years various authorities in the South-East have been hoping for a statement of Government policy on national planning matters which are of the greatest importance to them; for example, as to which towns have been selected for expansion and reception of London overspill, which towns for reception of offices and so forth. And is he aware that we were first told to await the South-East Study and, when this was withdrawn by the present Government, to await the Government's substitute plan? I do not know exactly what is the status of this document. Can the noble Lord give us any prospect that some finality will be reached on these matters within the foreseeable future, and can he say how it is to be reached?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I am aware that there have been these other studies, and I quite agree that the position was left in a somewhat untidy state; but this study by the Regional Council can, I think he will agree, be considered authoritative. It has brought the facts into perspective, and I should have hoped that this would be the set of proposals on which future planning might be based. As for time, I would expect that the Government will have received the comments from the various authorities and other bodies concerned and be able to give their views in, say, about six months' time.

VISCOUNT GAGE

My Lords, I understand, therefore, that this document has no departmental authority at all; it is simply issued to the Department and has no authority of that Department.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, within the area with which the plan is concerned there are a number of local authorities whose rights cannot be overridden. The idea of the plan is to provide a general strategy within which decisions can be taken, both by Government Departments and by local authorities.