§ Ms. GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why the event planned for June 1989 similar to the event organised by urban development corporations to be held at Lancaster house on 30 October was shelved;
(2) which urban development corporations expressed reservations at board level to him about participating in, and making a financial contribution to, the event organised by urban development corporations to be held at Lancaster house on 30 October;
(3) whether the platform at the event organised by urban development corporations to be held at Lancaster house on 30 October will represent a cross-section of viewpoints on urban development corporations including those critical of their record;
(4) what are the aims and objectives of the event organised by urban development corporations to be held at Lancaster house on 30 October; what is the estimated total cost of the event; and what contribution is being made towards the total cost (a) by his Department and (b) by each individual urban development corporation;
(5) whether local authorities and local authority associations will be invited to the event organised by urban development corporations to be held at Lancaster house on 30 October; and whether they will be represented on the platform.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe presentation at Lancaster house on 30 October was organised by the 11 urban development corporations of England and Wales. A number of dates had previously been considered. The guest list was set by the corporations to include leading members of the business and financial institutions in the United Kingdom and abroad and representatives of several foreign governments. This reflected the objective which was to promote further investment opportunities in the UDC areas. All 11 UDCs gave their full support. The estimated total cost is around £270,000. This will be met from the promotion and publicity budgets of the UDCs. My Department has directly contributed £4,150 for the hire of Lancaster house.
§ Ms. GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those urban development532W corporations currently preparing or revising a code of practice required under section 140 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;
(2) if he will list all the relevant local authorities, as defined in section 140(2) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, that have formally agreed and support a code of practice prepared by an urban development corporation as required under section 140(1) of that Act;
(3) if he will list those urban development corporations that have prepared a code of practice as required under section 140 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980;
(4) if he will list those urban development corporations that have prepared a code of practice within a period of 12 months after establishment as required under section 140(3) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAll UDCs prepared a code of practice within 12 months of designation, in consultation with local authorities. There is no statutory requirement for formal agreement to be reached with local authorities once the code has been prepared. Black Country UDC is currently reviewing its code and London Docklands is revising its code on development control, having recently issued a separate code covering non-planning consultations. No other UDCs are currently preparing or revising codes.