§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has consulted interested bodies about the criteria for use in designating rural areas under section 19 of the Housing Act 1980; and when he expects to make the first order designating such areas.
§ Mr. StanleyAs I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) on 11 December, the designation of rural areas will be considered in the light of authorities' own detailed applications. These applications are being considered and decisions will be reached as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities in England have so far applied for all or part of their areas to be designated as rural areas under section 19 of the Housing Act 1980.
§ Mr. StanleyI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) on 10 December. By 16 December further applications had been received from the following local authorities:
- Carlisle
- Ellesmere Port and Neston
- Forest Heath
- Kingswood
- Middlesbrough
- Scarborough
- Woodspring