§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the Northern region strategy plan; and why he has not published his views on the plan having regard to its importance for the future development of the North-East.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettMy right hon. Friend received the report of the Northern region strategy team on 22 March 1977. The report raised many important and complex issues which required lengthy interdepartmental discussions, now completed. The next step would have been a debate in the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs, followed soon afterwards by the publication of the Government's response. We are not now able to complete the process in this Parliament.