HC Deb 09 March 1976 vol 907 cc159-60W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the team reviewing the strategic plan for the South-East is expected to report on progress; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Silkin

An interim report has been completed. Copies have today been placed in the Library.

This report is essentially a statement of progress on the work of a team of officers drawn both from my Department and from the Standing Conference on London and South-East Regional Planning. I welcome the wholehearted cooperation of the Standing Conference and of the South-East Economic Planning Council in providing staff and other resources for this work. The review of the original Strategic Plan is commissioned jointly by my Department, the Economic Planning Council and the Standing Conference, but I would emphasise that none of these bodies is committed by any views in the report. The views expressed in it are solely those of the joint team.

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The team is at this stage reporting progress on its studies of the economy of the region, its resources, population change and prospects, the problems of London and their relationship to the region, the nature of growth and the con- cept of growth areas and transport. The report sets out certain attitudes and options but it does not make recommendations. It is intended particularly to help the local planning authorities in their structure plans before the team's final report is available. It is also being circulated as a consultation document to Government Departments, the Standing Conference and local authorities, the Economic Planning Council and various public bodies and regional organisations.

Any views expressed by these bodies and by hon. Members will be fully taken into account in the team's further work, prior to completion of a final report later this year. The final report will be published and open for public comment and debate. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will pay full regard to all such comments before reaching conclusions and publishing his response to it.