Anne Main's questions drag Prime Minister into Green Belt row
11th July 2007
Anne Main quizzes new Secretary of State for the department Hazel Blears on the future of the Green Belt and the impact on the environment of the Government's building agenda.
Yesterday Anne Main, Conservative MP for St Albans, in her position as Member of Communities and Local Government Select Committee quizzed the new Secretary of State for the department Hazel Blears on the future of the Green Belt and the impact on the environment of the Government's building agenda.
Mrs Blears was unable to provide "categoric assurances" to Anne's question that the rules surrounding Metropolitan Green Belt would not be relaxed. The Prime Minister was later in the day dragged into the row by the national media who sought clarification of why his Secretary of State could not do so.
During the same meeting Mrs Blears also described the impact of house building on the environment as a "tussle." Anne was worried about this apparent lack of commitment to the environment especially in light of the fact that the Minister came up with even greater figures for house building, to house the estimated 230,000 new households forming every year.
Anne said:
"The Secretary of State, in her priority list, appeared to dismiss concerns over the impact on the environment by a huge increase in house building as a mere "tussle". I made it quite clear to the Minister that this "tussle" was not one that I wished the environment to lose. I was so concerned at her responses I pressed her for a categorical assurance that no substantial revisions would be made to Green Belt policy - but the Secretary of State did not give it.
"Yet again the environment appears to be very low down on the Government's priority list. I am not surprised the Prime Minister was drawn into the row later in the day by the national media when he was asked to clarify Labour's Green Belt policy. The Prime Minister did seek to play down the matter but I am concerned the Secretary of State made it clear that Building and not the environment is her 'top priority'."
"I will continue to press the Government hard, at every opportunity, on the issue of house building on behalf of St Albans."
Photo: Anne Main speaking in Committee"