HC Deb 27 July 1993 vol 229 c851W
Mr. Coe

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the new rural planning strategy and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

The new strategy will be published in September. This follows a major consultation exercise commenced in August 1991 involving the publication of the leaflet "What Kind of Countryside Do We Want?", and a series of public meetings or "rural clinics" organised by the Rural Development Council, the Rural Community Network and Community Technical Aid at which the issues raised in the leaflet were discussed. The strategy document will outline the overall planning strategy and regional policies for the rural area, and will collate within one document planning guidance to all those interested in development in the rural area.