§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Assembly of Welsh Counties or with Welsh representatives of individual counties in relation to the strategic planning guidance exercise recently completed; what financial considerations governed the funding of the planning exercise; what information on the contents and findings will be made public; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntIn 1990, the Assembly of Welsh Counties—AWC—accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation to co-ordinate the strategic planning guidance in Wales exercise and to report the results of the work to him. The work has included an assessment of the existing strategic planning guidance that provides the framework for the preparation of development plans and identification of the main strategic planning issues likely to affect Wales in the next 10 to 15 years. The Department has kept closely in touch with the progress of the exercise and officials have attended the seminars arranged by the AWC to discuss the interim results. The management of the exercise, its scale, degree of consultation and the consequent financial considerations are a matter for the AWC. My right hon. Friend expects to receive the final report shortly and will consider fully what further action is necessary. I understand that the AWC will be making its report publicly available. I will ensure that a copy is placed in the Library of the House.