HC Deb 14 June 1984 vol 61 cc544-5W
Mr. Heddle

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the list of 43 district councils outside the Greater London council area where the Greater London council owns dwellings or estates; and if he will indicate (a) the method and (b) the time scale of the proposed transfer of ownership of these properties from the Greater London council to the district councils in question.

Sir George Young

The responses made by the GLC Conservative group to the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" lists on page 52 the 43 district councils, as follows.

Arun Dover
Brighton East Devon
Canterbury East Lindsey
Chichester Eastleigh
Christchurch Fenland

Gosport Shrewsbury and Atcham
Great Yarmouth South Norfolk
Hastings Southampton
Havant Suffolk Coastal
Kerrier Swale
Lewes Taunton Deane
Maldon Tendring
Medina Tewkesbury
Mid Suffolk Thanet
New Forest Waveney
Newbury Wealdon
North Dorset West Norfolk
North Norfolk West Somerset
Plymouth West Wiltshire
Purbeck Woodspring
Sedgemoor Worthing
Shepway

Decisions have not yet been taken about arrangements for the transfer of ownership to the councils.

Mr. Burt

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available the note on revised arrangements for planning in Greater London and the metropolitan counties referred to in his answer of 4 May, Official Report, columns 264–66, to the hon. Member for Bury, North.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Yes. I am today placing in the Library of the House a paper which gives details of the decisions I have made on arrangements for development plans following the abolition of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils. These provide for a system of unitary development plans in place of structure and local plans to be prepared by London borough and metropolitan district councils. I have made these changes in response to criticism that the proposals which I published for consultation were unnecessarily complex. I have produced simplified arrangements which nevertheless ensure effective strategic planning for London and the metropolitan areas, together with detailed local planning. The arrangements include provision for me to call in the general policies of any plan for my own approval should this be necessary. The paper is available to the public from my Department.