§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Basildon council about the future of the development corporation over the last four years.
§ Mr. TraceyMy right hon. Friend has received no representations in this period other than in response to the statutory consultations initiated in July last year as a 421W preliminary to the making of an order under section 41 of the New Towns Act 1981 winding up the corporation. The council expressed the view that the life of the development corporation should be prolonged beyond the proposed wind-up date, now confirmed, of 1 April 1986. The council expressed concern over employment generation, housing and roads. The Commission for the New Towns will carry forward the new town road programme and pursue the question of housing transfer. The commission will also promote employment generation, as it does in respect of all the towns where it has taken over the assets of a development corporation.