HL Deb 27 February 1989 vol 504 cc932-3WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Secretary of State for the Environment will call in the planning application by the Royal Opera House, in the light of recent press allegations (e.g. in the Financial Times, 11 th February 1989) that the application concealed the intentions of the applicants, which have since changed.

Lord Hesketh

No. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave very careful consideration to calling in this application but concluded that he would not be justified in taking the decision out of the hands of the local planning authority. Westminster City Council are fully aware of the recent press reports and are competent to deal with the matter.