§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the local planning authorities 25W which have so far published consultative documents relating to their proposed structure plans, those which have completed the consultation process and have published a revised document to be presented to him, and those which have published no documents at all to date.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe following 13 authorities have not only completed the consultation process but also submitted structure plans for all or part of their areas to my right hon. Friend:
Warwickshire CC Coventry CB Solihull CB Worcestershire CC Leicester CB joint plan Leicestershire CC Hampshire CC joint plan Portsmouth CB Southampton CB Staffordshire CC Wolverhampton CB West Bromwich CB Stoke on Trent CB The following seven authorities have completed the consultation process and will shortly submit structure plans:
- Burton upon Trent CB
- Birmingham CB
- Walsall CB
- Warley CB
- Dudley CB
- Herefordshire CC
- Teesside CB
Apart from the 20 authorities listed above, complete information about the stage reached by individual authorities in the publication of consultative documents and consultation upon them is not available, as local planning authorities are not required to supply information on "public participation" to my right hon. Friend until they submit their structure plans for approval. I understand, however, that by the end of 1973 at least the following seven authorities had also started on the process of consulting the public:
- North Riding CC Durham CC
- Northampton CB
- Northamptonshire CC
- Lancashire CC
- Blackburn CB
- Burnley CB
In addition, it is known that a number of authorities have published preliminary documents such as reports of survey.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding the preparation 26W of regional strategies to define growth areas as guidance for the drafting of structure plans; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John SilkinMy right hon. Friend will encourage the continued preparation of regional strategies as a framework for the production of structure plans. The strategies will not be confined to the definition of growth areas, but will address themselves to all the broader physical and economic planning problems of the regions for which they are produced.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the public hearings under the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 which have so far taken place, indicating the date in each case, the names of the participants granted locus standi, and the number of days on which the hearings took place; and whether he will list the future hearings for which he has so far set firm dates, giving the names of the local planning authorities in each case;
(2) whether he will list the structure plans which have now come to him for final decision, the public hearing having been completed; and by what date he anticipates announcing his decision on each one.
§ Mr. John SilkinTwo examinations in public have been completed. The Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire structure plans were examined in public together, on 20 days between 13th November and 19th December 1973. My right hon. Friend has recently received the report of the panel holding the examination and is now considering his decision, which he hopes to issue in the early summer of this year. The Worcestershire structure plan was examined in public on 15 days between 15th January and 7th February 1974.
My right hon. Friend is awaiting the panel's report. He cannot anticipate when he will be able to give his decision but it is his intention to avoid delay.
A number of examinations in public will take place towards the end of this year but no firm dates have as yet been fixed.
As the lists of participants at the two examinations already held are lengthy, I 27W will be sending them to the hon. Member.