§ Mr. DurantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to respond to the SERPLAN regional statement, "A New Strategy for the South East".
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI welcome SERPLAN's regional statement which is an important step towards developing new regional planning guidance for the south-east. The existing regional guidance is set out in my Department's planning policy guidance note No. 9 of February 1989. Such guidance is intended to provide a framework for the preparation of structure plans by county councils. The Government will now review the existing guidance in the light of SERPLAN's statement. We will also take account of any relevant views expressed by other persons or organisations. Those wishing their views to be taken into account should send them to my Department by the end of 1990. To assist consideration of the issues concerned, my Department will be holding a conference early in 1991, at 93W which invited parties will be able to express their views. We will later publish—for consultation—draft regional planning guidance for the south-east.