§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about the new house building targets for Worcestershire; and if he will make a statement. [52732]
§ Mr. CabornTo date we have received 10 representations expressing concern about Worcestershire County Council's housing development options set out in their consultation document "Shaping the New Worcestershire". This is intended to inform preparations of the Structure Plan for the new county. It is very much in line with the Secretary of State's statement in the House on 23 February 1998,Official Report, columns 21–25, when he said he wanted local people to be consulted as early as possible in the process so that they fully understand the consequences of decisions on releasing land for housing and can have a say in the choice of locations. My Department has chosen not to comment on the options at this stage but we expect to examine the Council's definitive proposals at the next stage of the Structure Plan process.