§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he will consider what action should be taken to preserve the beauty and nature of the countryside near industrial cities and towns; if he will take urgent action to preserve for the future the area to the west of the main road through Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, the woods between Newstead, Stoke-on-Trent, and Wedgwoods new factory, Mow Cop, all the land within a reasonable radius of Worsley Court House, Worsley Woods and the woods on Barton Moss;
(2) if he will seek the co-operation of the National Forestry Commission in the need for the preservation, planting and improvement of the Trentham, Worsley and Barton Moss Woods.
§ Sir K. JosephPreservation of the countryside is an essential planning consideration, which local planning authorities keep well before them; my right hon. Friend does not think any special action on his part is called for. He is not aware that any action which is not already being taken by the local planning and other authorities is needed to preserve the particular areas to which the hon. Member refers. The Forestry Commission are working in close cooperation with the planning authorities in the areas mentioned.