HC Deb 26 February 1973 vol 851 cc274-6W
Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in order to assist his consideration of the Layfield Report, he will hold public meetings with residents living within each London borough to discuss their views on the report on the future development of London; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will seek to hold a public debate in the near future to discuss the Greater London Development Plan.

Mr. Rippon

The 237 days of public inquiry into the plan have already provided an opportunity for public participation on an unprecedented scale. There will be a formal opportunity for the public to make representations, and if necessary a further public inquiry or inquiries, after I publish my draft modifications and before I take formal decisions on the plan.

Mr. Stallard

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will produce a cheap version of the Report of the Panel of Inquiry on the Greater London Development Plan.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will produce a cheap version of the Report of the Panel of Inquiry on the Greater London Development Plan.

Mr. Rippon

Members of the public who do not wish to buy the full report are able to inspect it at the offices of the Greater London Council and the London borough councils. I am willing to consider whether there is a need to publish a shorter version.

Mr. Stallard

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to enable local authorities to implement the proposals contained in the Greater London Development Plan Report of the Inquiry, paragraph 6.27.

Mr. Rippon

The panel's recommendations are being studied in connection with a general review of policy on older housing.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce his proposals on the control of office development permits for Greater London as outlined in the Layfield Report.

Mr. Rippon

Paragraph 22 of the Government statement published with the panel's report states that the Government must at this stage reserve their position on the panel's recommendation that the system of office development permits should be discontinued.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce as soon as possible his proposals for improving poor housing in certain areas of greater London as outlined in the Layfield Report, and for ensuring the protection of tenants' rights of people at present living in such housing.

Mr. Rippon

In the course of my review of policy affecting older housing I will consider what changes are necessary in the light of the panel's report. I issued a circular only last month drawing the attention of local authorities to the substantial increases in the maximum penalties provided in the Criminal Justice Act 1972 for harassment and unlawful eviction and urging authorities to take firm action to ensure that tenants were made fully aware of their rights.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the statement made in the Greater London Development Plan, he will announce his proposals designed to produce an increase in the number of council houses being built in London, as soon as possible.

Mr. Rippon

As part of my policy to increase the provision of housing by all agencies in greater London, I shall continue to give the London housing authorities every encouragement to enlarge their programmes for building houses to rent. The services of the Action Group on London Housing are available to help them overcome any specific problems, such as land availability.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call a meeting of members of the councils of all the London boroughs to discuss with them his views on the reduction of employment in the greater London area, as outlined in the Greater London Development Plan.

Mr. Rippon

I shall be willing to consider any views which the London borough councils, either individually or collectively, may wish to express on the panel's report.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of the Greater London Development Plan, the price of which is£10.26½, he proposes to have printed.

Mr. Rippon

3,000 copies of the report and Government statement have already been printed. Further copies will be printed as necessary.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to allow objectors at the recent public inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan to recover, in whole or in part, their costs.

Mr. Rippon

No. Objectors at inquiries into development plans are expected to bear their own costs.