§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 18 March,Official Report, column 9, on the establishment of an interdepartmental working group in respect of perceived blight (a) what is the membership of the group, (b) when it is due to report to him, (c) when its findings will be published, (d) what representations will be allowed from local authorities and affected residents and (e) if it will take into account views expressed by any Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill. [27105]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe interdepartmental working group on blight is chaired by the head of the Department of the Environment planning directorate. The membership of the group is drawn from the Departments for Education and Employment, the Environment, National Heritage, Trade and Industry and Transport and the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and of Defence, Her Majesty's Treasury, the Welsh and Scottish Offices, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, the Highways Agency, the Prison Service, NHS Estates and the Valuation Office.
The working group will circulate a paper shortly summarising the main issues for consideration and inviting comments. A copy will be placed in the Library. Until we see what evidence is submitted and are able to analyse the options that may arise, it is premature to say when a final report will be submitted, but the working group will proceed as quickly as possible and I have already undertaken that there will be a progress report in September.
Evidence from affected residents, local authorities or other interested parties is welcome at any time through one of the professional bodies or interest groups, or direct to the working group. Representations should be sent to the secretary, room C16/08a, 2 Marsham street, London SW1P 3EB.
The working group will, of course, take full account of all views expressed by any Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, alongside 429W those already expressed by the Select Committee in the House of Commons and by hon. Members during the Commons Standing Committee on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill.