§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to set up a task force to oversee development of the east Thames corridor; and what area will be covered by the development plans.
§ Mr. BaldryAn announcement will be made on this very shortly, following which I will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. EvennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in producing the revised regional planning guidance for the south-east and proposals for the east Thames corridor.
§ Mr. HowardThe new draft regional planning guidance for the south-east, a report by consultants Llewelyn Davies570W on the development potential of the east Thames corridor and a consultation paper on the Government's approach to that area's development will be published tomorrow at 10 am. Copies of these documents will be placed in the Vote Office and the Library at that time. The guidance will aim to meet the development requirements of the recovering economy in the south-east and the housing needs of its people for the period up to 2011, while responding to the range of environmental concerns and opportunities. It will emphasise the need for development to continue to take place throughout the region but recognise that in the medium to longer-term development opportunities in the eastern parts of the region, particularly the east Thames corridor, will have an increasingly important part to play. The consultation paper on the east Thames corridor will set out reactions to the consultants' findings and proposals for a task force to consider the future planning of that area.