§ 2.33 p.m.
§ LORD VIVIANMy 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 call in any planning scheme for the rebuilding of Piccadilly Circus prior to any commencement of work.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in another place last Friday by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
§ LORD VIVIANMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord, Lord Sandford, the Minister, for his Answer, may I further ask him whether he realises that in that short Answer he has given both myself and many other people a relief from our nightmare?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I am delighted to hear that my right honourable friend's Answer has assured the noble Lord sweet dreams.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware—and I address my remarks particularly to the noble Earl the Leader of the House—that in my experience it is unprecedented in this House to answer a Question by means of a reference to an Answer given in another place? Is the noble Earl aware, furthermore, that, although this is a well-known procedure in the House of Commons, it is practically unknown in this place, and I hope very much that we shall not adopt it here? With the greatest respect to the noble Lord, Lord Sandford, it might help the House if he were now 899 to give the Answer that was given in another place, of which we have no official cognisance.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I shall be delighted to do that. It was the convenience of the House that I had in mind, as in fact the Answer given by my right honourable friend has been there for all to read over the weekend and yesterday. But if it is the wish of the House, I will certainly give the full Answer. On Friday, my right honourable friend replied to a similar Question as follows:
The arrangements made with the Westminster City Council, including the issue of short-dated office development permits which were legally pre-requisite to the planning applications, were designed to put the whole redevelopment scheme on public view at the earliest possible stage. I am most grateful to the city council for making this possible. But the issue is of such public importance and interest that I am consulting the Westminster City Council about referring the applications to me now without going through the ordinary planning procedures, which are bound to take time."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Commons; 5/5/72, col. 228.]
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I hope that the noble Earl will take note of what I think was a clear reaction from your Lordships on this matter. I acquit the noble Lord of discourtesy to the House, but this is an important point of principle for us.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition has invited me to say a word on this matter. He said that this procedure was unprecedented. I should be a little chary about agreeing with that, because precedents are usually to be found for things that happen in your Lordships' House. Nevertheless, there are more normal procedures than the one of which the noble Lord has reminded us, and I am certain that my noble friend has taken due account of that.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Earl. I shall be very glad to know what precedents he finds for it.