§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been 2188W called to the recent action by the Hastings authorities to try and save the natural amenities of a portion of the coast which is outside their own immediate district; and whether he will recommend to local authorities whose borders extend to the sea that in all appropriate cases they might consider taking such action as will preserve these amenities now existing for the benefit of the public in future, or at least schedule such areas with a view to future action on these lines?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware of the Hastings case. With regard to the second part of the question, the Town Planning Act, 1925, empowers a local authority to prepare a town planning scheme for any lard within their district which is in course of development or appears likely to be used for building purposes, with the object of securing amenity, sanitary conditions and convenience in the development of the land. I have no reason to think that local authorities whose borders extend to the sea are not generally aware of their powers under the Act. If, however, any hon. Friend has in mind particular cases where the preparation of a scheme would be likely to be an advantage and informs me of them, I shall be prepared to look into them.
Viscountess ASTORasked the Secretary for Scotland what action has been taken to bring the advantage of town planning before Local authorities; how many conferences in the subject have been held at which officials of the Scottish Board of Health were present since 1st January, 1920; and on what dates was approval given for the only two official schemes in Scotland?
§ Sir J. GILMOURFollowing upon the passing of the Housing, Town Planning, Etc., Act, 1909, the Local Government Board for Scotland issued a circular to local authorities as to their powers under the Act, and called their attention generally to the importance of its pro-visions. In 1911 a City and Town Planning Exhibition was held in Edinburgh, and this was followed by a number of conferences with the principal local authorities both in connection with the general subject of town planning and with individual schemes which had been submitted. 2189W The outbreak of war necessitated a general curtailment of activity in regard to town planning, but the Local Government Board were able to influence the development along modern lines of several of the large building schemes undertaken for purposes of the War, and in these schemes the advantages of town planning were amply demonstrated. Since 1919 local authorities have not been specially urged to proceed with town planning in view of the pressure of work in connection with housing schemes. The Scottish Board of Health have, however, on frequent occasions discussed town planning mutters with representatives of local authorities and their housing schemes have been designed on the principles of modern town planning. The Dunfermline town planning scheme was approved on 7th May, 1920, and the Edinburgh (Fountainbridge) scheme on 7th January, 1921. In addition to these two schemes, I may say that the Scottish Board of Health have given general approval to a plan prepared by a joint committee representing the local authorities of Glasgow City, Clydebank Burgh, Eastern district of Dumbarton, and upper district of Renfrew, for the development of a large extent of land in the areas of these local authorities. In due course the detailed town planning scheme for this area will be submitted for the approval of the Board. The Board have also had before them a scheme prepared by the Corporation of Edinburgh for ground at Craigentinny, Restalrig and Lochend, and have held a local inquiry into the scheme and into the objections thereto. The draft clauses of the scheme, however, have not yet been finally adjusted.