§ Dr. Kim HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement, further to the consultation paper "Encouraging the Use of Vacant Public Land", as to the particular functions and the timescale which would be accepted by him as constituting sufficient grounds on which to regard development plans as being firm.
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§ Mr. YeoDeciding whether an owner's plans are sufficiently firm to make the issue of a direction undesirable is essentially a matter of judgment, taking all relevant factors, including the owner's purpose and the timescale of the proposed development, into account. My right hon. Friend will consider each case on its merits.