asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received in response to his Department's circular 30/86 entitled "Housing for Senior Management."

Forty four local authorities responded to the circular, and 14 other organisations and individuals made representations.

In view of the fact that the circular is to be inflicted on the people of Wales, but not on the people of England, will the Under-Secretary of State accept that it will undermine the entire planning process? Does he further accept that an overwhelming body of people in Wales are against the circular, and will he arrange to withdraw it as soon as he can?

The answer to the last question is no. I stress that the circular is concerned only with sites for individually designed single, new houses or low-density groups of houses in attractive locations commanding the privacy and space that executives in business and industry expect, and can often find elsewhere. I find it hard to believe that that could in any way undermine planning policies in Wales.

Will my hon. Friend make it clear that that will not mean the abandonment of sound planning principles, but is merely an additional consideration that planning authorities should have in mind in their aim of creating new jobs in the Principality?

My hon. Friend is absolutely right.