TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (Hansard, 21 September 1943)

§ Mr. W. S. Morrison

Consideration of these matters has proceeded continuously. As to the Barlow Report, I cannot at present add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 3rd August, 1943, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The Scott Report has now been examined and His Majesty's Government hope shortly to make a statement on the recommendations. Parliament has already given effect to certain recommendations of the Scott and Uthwatt Reports by the Town and Country Planning (Interim Development) Act, 1943, passed in July, which applies planning control to the whole country and gives increased powers of control over interim development to planning authorities and to the Minister. Further, the Government have already announced their acceptance of the principle of the public acquisition of all land in reconstruction areas, and progress has been made in the preparation of the necessary legislation. The Government have also announced their acceptance in principle of the recommendation of the Uthwatt Committee that, in order to prevent postwar reconstruction from being prejudiced, the compensation payable in the public acquisition or control of land should not exceed the standard of values at the 31st March, 1939. They hope shortly to make a further statement on the detailed application of that principle. The further matters dealt with in the Uthwatt Report are still under consideration.