asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to reduce the damage to local amenities resulting from his approval of a large-scale development at New Ash Green in the Kent Green Belt; and whether, in view of the cost to ratepayers in the neighbourhood of the large-scale sewerage works necessitated by the development, he will make additional grants available so that those concerned will not suffer financial hardship as well as loss of amenity.

There need be no damage to the local amenities, nor is there any reason why the ratepayers in the neighbourhood should suffer financial hardship as a result of my permission for a new village at New Ash Green. Expenditure on sewerage will be taken into account for rate deficiency grant.