Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Prime Minister's Questions

Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con) : If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 1 December.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair): This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have further such meetings later today.

Mr. Blunt: On Monday, the Government-appointed South East England regional assembly rejected the Deputy Prime Minister's plans for concreting over the south-east. In the new year, the Deputy Prime Minister will re-impose his plans on the south-east. Will the Prime Minister explain the point of that body, which the Deputy Prime Minister will ignore, as he ignores our properly elected local councillors, who are infinitely more capable of deciding housing numbers in their own areas?

The Prime Minister: The South East England regional assembly is responsible at this stage for examining alternative options for the development of the south-east. We are at an early stage in the process and should take it one step at a time. Let us be clear that anyone who looked at housing supply in this country would recognise the need to build more homes in the south-east. We need to build more homes, the majority of which will be on brownfield sites. We will protect the green belt, but those hon. Members who suggest to their constituents that more homes are not required are simply misleading them.

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