§ Major Stourtonasked the Minister of Health, in view of the failure of the Town Planning Act to prevent the further destruction of agricultural land through unrestricted development, whether he will consider introducing legislation at an early date with a view to achieving the threefold object of surveying the whole rural and coastal landscape, the compilation of a register of those portions deemed necessary to be protected from disfigurement, and the setting up of an authority in the national interest, with full powers to frustrate all interference likely to have such deplorable consequences?
§ Mr. ElliotThe question of the preservation of the countryside has1534W recently been under the consideration of the Town and Country Planning Advisory Committee, and in their report they expressed the view, with which I agree, that the existing statutory powers are adequate if they are skilfully and firmly administered. I have issued a circular to planning authorities in the light of the report of the Advisory Committee, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.