§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will formulate and publish a comprehensive policy study of the south-east region of England that will take account of the permanent loss of agricultural land and damage to the countryside caused by housing and industrial development.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneNo. I do not believe that a comprehensive policy study is called for. My right hon. Friend has already issued draft guidance on the specific planning issues raised by the M25 for the South East. My Department has also recently issued planning circulars on housing land, green belts and industrial development. This draft advice does not change in any way the government's continued commitment to the preservation of agricultural land and areas of special amenity. When this guidance is finalised I expect local planning authorities in the South East as elsewhere to take it into account in updating their structure plans which are sent to my right hon. Friend for his approval.