§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the expansion of Basildon New Town.
§ Mr. GreenwoodMy predecessor asked the Basildon Development Corporation to examine to what extent the target population of the town could be increased beyond the present agreed figure of 106,000. They have concluded that on present plans this figure will be substantially exceeded by the natural increase of population and that a population of about 140,000 can be accommodated within the designated area—which would allow Basildon to give some further relief to London's needs. They have submitted to me a revised master plan proposing how this should be done.
I have considered the Corporation's analysis of the population targets, together with the views put to me by Essex County Council and others. I think it right that provision should be made within the designated area for the natural increase now forecast and for some increase over present plans in the numbers to be received from London. A public inquiry will now be arranged into the Corporation's master plan proposals.