§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the proposed London Planning Commission will be required to vet each unitary borough development plan before it is adopted by the responsible borough council; if it will appear at inquiries into such plans; and what monitoring by the commission of borough planning decisions will be necessary to ensure successful implementation of strategic policies.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe role of the London Planning Commission will be to assist the Secretary of State in preparing his guidance for local planning authorities in Greater London for the preparation of their unitary development plans, and to advise him on other matters relating to the planning and development of Greater London. It will not therefore have any direct function in relation to the statutory procedures for the preparation and adoption of a unitary development plan by a London borough council.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce the terms of reference of his proposed London Planning Commission, the composition of its membership, the time scale for it to prepare its advisory strategic guidance for London once it is established, and the staffing resources it will require to do this.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneI refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 25 October at column697.