Mr. Moormanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the future of the Maplin Development Authority.
§ Mr. CroslandThe Maplin Development Authority was constituted, in accordance with the provisions of the Maplin Development Act 1973, to reclaim land at Maplin and Foulness Sands for the establishment of an airport and a seaport. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, in his statement to the House today, announced that the Government had decided to abandon the Maplin airport project. In the circumstances I have concluded that it is not appropriate to keep the Maplin Development Authority in being.
In May this year I directed the authority to minimise its expenditure on existing commitments and in running costs, and to make contingency arrangements for closing down its activities at such a date as I might further direct. I now propose, after due consultation with the authority, to direct it to cease further activity and to discharge its remaining obligations. As soon as is convenient I shall seek powers to dissolve the authority.