Oral Answers to Questions — Town and Country Planning – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 December 1947.
Brigadier Christopher Peto
, Barnstaple
12:00,
9 December 1947
asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when the undertaking given by the Prime Minister on 25th February, 1947, that no agricultural land will be involved by the requirements of the Services in respect of Braunton and Northam Burrows, will be implemented; and whether he will now state when the long promised white paper will be issued.
Mr Lewis Silkin
, Camberwell Peckham
As indicated by the Prime Minister in the statement referred to, the land required by the War Department at Braunton Burrows and Northam Burrows is not agricultural. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "This week."
Brigadier Christopher Peto
, Barnstaple
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer is not in accordance with information I have received from the Clerk to the Devon county council and the Clerk to the Barnstaple Rural District Council; that great dissatisfaction is caused throughout the country by the occupation of agricultural land; and will he take some steps at any rate to see that if it is not released it will be put under agriculture?
Mr Lewis Silkin
, Camberwell Peckham
I was not aware of the dissatisfaction mentioned in the first two parts of that supplementary question, but I will certainly deal with the third part.
Mr George Lambert
, South Molton
asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when the report of the public local inquiry into the land requirements of the Service Departments in the Dartmoor area is to be published.
Mr Lewis Silkin
, Camberwell Peckham
It is not proposed to publish the report referred to. I hope to be able to announce a decision in the near future.
Mr George Lambert
, South Molton
Is the Minister aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction when the Services continue to occupy land which apparently they have agreed to give up; and can he say whether he will publish the report before Christmas?
Mr Lewis Silkin
, Camberwell Peckham
Well, probably not before Christmas. In any case, as I have already answered, it is not proposed to publish the report; that is not usual. However, the decision will be published as soon as possible.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
