§ Major Digbyasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning the reason for the continued delay in giving approval to planning schemes submitted to the Ministry of Health before the outbreak of war in 1939; whether he is aware of the many important decisions connected with these schemes now facing interim development authorities; and whether he will give an assurance that this delay does not indicate that he intends to ask for a revision of plans.
§ Mr. SilkinThe absence of many owners on national service, and the shortage of technical staff both in my Department and among the local authorities, have made it impossible hitherto to proceed with formal steps in the consideration of planning schemes submitted for approval before the war. Moreover, in view of the wider aims of planning which are now generally agreed to be necessary, substantial revision of many of the schemes so submitted will, be required before they200W can be adopted as a proper basis for planning control. My regional planning officers are available to advise authorities as to the nature and extent of the revision required in any particular case.