§ Mr. Deedesasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he is proposing to publish the Buchanan Report on the Ashford expansion; and what advice he is giving to local authorities about it.
§ Mr. GreenwoodThe consultants' report is being published today.
I have decided that the evidence at present available to me does not show conclusively that it will be necessary or 443W desirable to undertake development in the Ashford area on the scale and at the rate considered in the consultants' report. I am therefore asking the South East Economic Planning Council and the local and other authorities concerned to let me have their views first on this issue and suggesting to them that detailed comments on the area recommended by the consultants for designation as a New Town should be held over for the time being until a decision in principle whether to proceed with the project, and if so on what scale, has been taken.