§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he proposes to complete his review of the process by which the structure plans are prepared;
(2) what role he is planning to give county councils in preparing future structure plans.
§ Mr. ChopeA White Paper on the future of development plans (CM 569) was published on Monday 30 January. The White Paper proposes the abolition of structure plans, but envisages that county councils should continue to have a key role in the planning process, both in relation to the preparation of regional planning guidance, and in the formulation of planning policies on issues which need to be considered on a county-wide basis. Each county will be required to prepare a statement of county planning policies on a defined range of subjects. They will also be required to prepare a separate minerals development plan. In England, development control responsibility for minerals and waste disposal will remain with the county councils.