§ 3.24 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAMSHIREMy 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 set up a planning commission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, to look into the many vast and expensive schemes being planned for Essex and Kent, chiefly near the Thames Estuary, for the next fifteen years; and if not, what are their reasons for not doing so.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, a planning inquiry commission would not be appropriate for the purpose to which the noble Earl refers. Long-term development of the region has already been studied in the Strategy for the South-East, endorsed by Her Majesty's Government. This envisages a major growth area in South-East Essex in conjunction with the proposed Third London Airport at Maplin, and a medium-growth area in Kent, taking account of a possible Channel Tunnel. Individual development proposals will be dealt with through the appropriate planning or other procedures.
§ THE EARL OF BUCKINGHAMSHIREMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that it was envisaged under this Act that a planning inquiry commission was a proper instrument for a Minister to use in a situation of this kind? That being so, may I ask why this course was not adopted?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, it was not adopted for the reasons that I gave in my original Answer.
§ BARONESS STOCKSMy Lords, would it not be reasonable to suggest that in view of the Buchanan Report concerning the Roskill Commission Report on Foulness Airport, the whole question of the planning of Essex be considered in relation to possible economic, residential and tourism development in East London, which holds out really shining possibilities for London as a whole?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, that was, as the noble Baroness may remember, very much in our minds and our debates when we were discussing the decision on the Third London Airport. The noble Baroness will also be aware of the Dockland Study which will be one way of giving effect to these Reports.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that co-ordinated planning of all our estuaries is long overdue, no matter by what means it may be undertaken, and not least in the interests of balanced regional development?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, I agree that there is scope for improving our planning procedures; and the regional strategy for the South-East is the first major step in that direction.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, would the noble Lord be good enough to refresh the memory of the House by giving the date of the Roskill Commission's Report and the date of the South-East Planning Report?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I would rather not answer any of these complex matters without notice; but I will certainly answer any Questions about specific developments covered in the area that is the concern of the noble Earl, if he or the noble Lord, Lord Beswick, will put them down.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, did not the noble Lord say in his original Answer that the matters about which my noble 358 friend asked (which include, of course, the possible Maplin development) were dealt with in the Report of the South-East Planning Committee?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, what I said was that all the developments to which the noble Earl's Question referred—which, although he did not mention it, must include the Third London Airport—are being considered within the context and framework of the Regional Study for the South-East.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, but the Regional Study for the South-East was published before the Roskill Report. How, then, could it have taken it into account?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I did not say it did so. What I said was that it provided a framework for the consideration of this development.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, is it not true to say that in Appendix C it did foresee the possibility of the Third London Airport at Maplin?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, that is so, but it does not alter the gist of what I said in my original reply: it provides a framework for this development.
§ LORD BERNSTEINMy Lords, would the noble Lord ask the responsible authorities to issue a plan which the Members of your Lordships' House could see, showing which property will be available to local authorities and which property will be sold to private developers?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, which particular area does the noble Lord have in mind?
§ LORD BERNSTEINMy Lords, all the area which is to be developed for the benefit of the new Airport and Tunnel.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, it is early days for doing that; but as the various studies which lead to the development of London Airport mature, that kind of information will become available.