§ Captain ERSKINE-BOLSTasked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have taken advantage of the Town and Country Planning Act; and whether he is taking any steps to expedite action in the case of those which have not made use of the provisions of this measure?
Sir H. YOUNGResolutions to prepare schemes under the new Act have been passed for areas in the districts of 117 authorities and cover over 1,500,000 acres of land. There are, in addition, schemes covering over 10,000,000 acres being prepared for areas in the districts of 726 authorities on resolutions passed under the old Acts. Fourteen new joint planning committees have been formed under the new Act, of which 13 are executive; the Greater London Regional Planning Committee, which is advisory, has been reconstituted under the new Act. In the circumstances, I do not think steps are necessary to expedite action in cases where use has not yet been made of the new Act.