HC Deb 04 February 1981 vol 998 cc150-1W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total demand for housing in England and Wales as foreshadowed in county structure plans already approved; and by how much this figure falls short of requirements estimated by his Department for selected dates.

Mr. Giles Shaw

No aggregate figure for housing demand in England and Wales has been prepared by my right hon. Friend on the basis of approved structure plans. The Government's views on projections of housing demand were set out in its reply—Cmnd 8105—to the First Report from the Environment Committee in paragraphs 6–9.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the overall shortfall in housing estimates contained in county structure plans due to the failure of adjoining counties to correlate their requirements; and whether he proposes to give authorities any directions under section 7 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to adjust their estimates.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I am not at present aware of any such shortfall but I am keeping the situation under review. I do not rule out the possibility of making directions but I have no proposals to do so at present.