HC Deb 09 December 1976 vol 922 cc300-1W
Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest position of the regional planning strategies.

Mr. Guy Barnett

The latest position with regard to regional strategies in England is as follows:

North-West.—A strategy report was produced by a team commissioned on a tripartite basis by the Government, the Regional Economic Planning Council and local authorities and published in May 1974; the Government response to it was published in December 1975.

Northern Region.—A team set up on a similar basis is now at work, and a strategy report is expected early in 1977.

Yorkshire and Humberside.—A strategy prepared by the Regional Economic Planning Council was published in October 1970 and the Government response was made in July 1971. A review of this strategy covering the next 10 years was published on 2nd February 1976 and the Government response to this will be published shortly.

West Midlands.—A strategy prepared by the West Midlands Planning Authorities' Conference was published in 1973 and a Government response was made in January 1974. Monitoring of the strategy is in progress.

East Midlands.—The Regional Economic Planning Council published a study in June 1969, and a short-term economic review on 18th October 1976. Steps to develop a full strategy for the region are now under consideration, and the review of October 1976 will be a useful input to this.

East Anglia.—A strategy report prepared by a team commissioned on the tripartite basis was published in January 1975. The Government response was published on 11th February 1976. Monitoring of the strategy is in progress.

South-West.—A report by the Regional Economic Council on the strategic settlement pattern was published in April 1974 and the Government response to it was published in August 1975.

South-East.—The Strategic Plan for the South-East, produced by a team under the aegis of central Government, the Standing Conference of London and the South-Eastern Planning Authorities, and the South-East Economic Planning Council was published in June 1970 and was given Government approval in October 1971. A major review of the strategy has been prepared on a tripartite basis and was published on 26th October 1976. This is currently being appraised and the Government response will be published in due course.