§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to take to ensure that agricultural dwellings erected in accordance with the advice given in the annex to circular 24/73 are occupied by farmers or farm workers engaged in a financially viable agricultural practice.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerLocal planning authorities have extensive enforcement powers if an agricultural dwelling is occupied in breach of an agricultural occupancy condition.
§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider publishing new guidance encouraging local planning authorities to restrict the occupation of agricultural dwellings to persons working on the land identified in the planning permission.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThis, and other suggestions, are under consideration with a view to publishing new guidance in the final version of the planning policy guidance note on the countryside and the rural economy.
§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has received concerning abuse of the special privilege given to agricultural workers' dwellings in the annex to circular 24/73.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerA number of responses to the consultation draft of the planning policy guidance note on the countryside and the rural economy commented on this point, and the Council for the Protection of Rural England has sent me a copy of its recent report, "A Place in the Country".