§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his oral statement of 23 February 1998,Official Report, column 24, if his policy of a sequential approach to the location of new housing applies (a) forthwith, (b) in respect of current planning applications and (c) in respect of planning applications being considered at public inquiry. [31777]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 27 February 1998]: The policy document issued by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on Monday 23 February ("Planning for the Communities of the Future", Cmd 3885) explains at paragraph 63 that the Government will be consulting interested parties over the development of specific guidance on a sequential approach. Meanwhile, National planning policy guidance already encourages authorities to make full and effective use of previously developed land for new housing development.