HC Deb 21 July 1971 vol 821 cc283-4W
51. and 52. Miss Holt

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many persons it is proposed to appoint to the board of the Preston New Town ;

(2) whether he proposes to appoint women to the board of the Preston New Town, and how many.

Mr. Channon

As required by the new Towns Act, my right hon. Friend is consulting the local authorities about the eight members of this Corporation who remain to be appointed. The qualifications and sex of the persons eventually appointed will be made known as soon as possible after those confidential consultations are complete, which I hope will be before long. The Act requires my right hon. Friend to have regard to the desirability of securing the services of one or more persons resident in or having special knowledge of the locality and he will do this.

Miss Holt

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will confine his appointments to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation to persons who reside in, and have close acquaintance with, the area to be comprised in the new town;

(2) when he expects to conclude his consultations with local authorities as to the persons to be appointed to the board of the Preston New Town ; and whether such consultations are confidential ;

(3) which bodies, other than local authorities, he proposes to consult when appointing people to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation ; and when ;

(4) whether he will appoint to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation a person or persons who has or have no connections with the area to be covered by the Preston Chorley Leyland New Town but connections only with a town in East Lancashire.

Mr. Channon

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer given earlier today to similar Questions.