asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the preparation of a regional strategy providing a framework for regional development, transportation and laid-on planning in the Northern Region.

A joint preparatory group has been set up by the Northern Economic Planning Board and the Local Authorities' North Regional Planning Committee to prepare a specification for a regional strategy. If their proposals are acceptable, it is hoped that the main study team might start work by the middle of this year, and complete it by 1974.