§ Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 947W Works and Planning whether he is aware that a considerable area of land is proposed for development by the Southdown Estate, near Ditchling, involving as many as 1,000 houses; that its object is the enrichment of speculators without proof of demand, consideration of local opinion, agricultural production and prospects or national planning and well-being; and whether he will give an assurance that this and similar developments of rural areas, promoted by other than public authorities, will not be acceded to until the fullest consideration has been given to Command Papers 6378 and 6386 and legislation introduced?
§ Mr. H. StraussThe Chailey Rural District Council, in exercise of their powers under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, refused permission for the development to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. The applicant appealed to my Noble Friend against this refusal, and my Noble Friend, after considering the report of an inspector, who held a local inquiry, and all the material facts, dismissed the appeal. In answer to the last part of the Question, the statute places the duty of considering such an application on the interim development authority, and my Noble Friend has at present no power to deal with it except on appeal by the applicant.