§ 32. Dr. Dickson Mahonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has accepted the proposal of the National Economic Development Council to draw up a strategic plan for the development of hypermarkets in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the situation so far.
§ Mr. YoungerI assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the recommendation of the Distributive Trades EDC that, in order to plan shopping provision rationally, planning must be done over wide enough areas to enable strategic plans to be drawn up on a regional basis. In June, 1971, my right hon. Friend 431W pointed out that the question of shopping distribution was an important one for study by local planning authorities jointly, and asked that statements of shopping location policy should as soon as possible form an important part of local authority development plans. Since then he has asked local planning authorities to refer to him all large shopping centre applications.