§ Mr. Raymond Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (1) what plans he has for the establishment of a National Environmental Data-Bank, with fast information retrieval, to facilitate speedier decisions on environmental questions by the public authorities concerned;
(2) what plans he has for the establishment of a National Environmental Centre; and if he will seek powers to 163W assist those organisations already working in this field.
§ Mr. CroslandThe Government have done much in recent years to show their practical concern for the environment. But I am now considering, with my right hon. Friends with statutory responsibilities, the existing machinery concerned with environmental matters, particularly environmental pollution; and the ways in which information, including the results of research, is stored, made available and used.