§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what means are available to enable him to reverse his decision to allow building on green belt land near Stevenage; [31478]
(2) if he has the power to reverse his decision to allow the building of 10,000 houses in the green belt near Stevenage; [31479]
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds if he were to reverse his decision to allow the building of 10,000 homes near Stevenage in the least expensive manner; [31480]
(4) on the basis of what unique connection to which traffic corridor he decided to allow building in the green belt near Stevenage. [31481]
§ Mr. CabornThe decision to allocate land west of Stevenage for housing development was taken by Hertfordshire County Council and put forward as a proposed modification to their review of the Structure Plan. The Government Office for the Eastern Region wrote to Hertfordshire County Council on 16 January setting out the reasons why the Secretary of State did not wish to object to this proposal. A copy of that letter has been placed in the Library. Among other things, that letter explains why he agreed with the independent Panel that held the Examination in Public that the Stevenage proposal represented the most sustainable solution to meeting housing need in the County, including in relation to transport infrastructure. It is now for the County to consider the various representations it has received on its proposed modifications. The Secretary of State retains his powers to direct modification or to call-in the plan up until the time it is adopted.