§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give the Government's reply to the Regional Strategy published by the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe reply is being published today. The Government welcome the Strategy and have endorsed many of its recommendations. They regard it as a thorough analysis of the problems and tasks facing the Region and as a valuable initial guide to the way ahead. They agree with the Council's proposal to develop the Strategy by area studies carried out jointly with the local planning authorities and consider that as soon as practicable it should be developed into a longer-term strategy jointly by the Regional Council, the Standing Conference of Local Planning Authorities and Central Government. A copy of the full reply has been placed in the Library.