§ 39. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in the light of the cuts imposed on council house building, he will circularise local planning authorities urging them to be less restrictive and negative in their attitude to applications for planning consent in the private sector, particularly in rural areas.
§ Mr. MacDermotNo. We recognise that there may be a developing problem of land shortage in certain areas and we propose to discuss with local planning authorities how to ensure that an adequate supply is made available in planning terms for private house building. But development in rural areas must be treated with great care.