asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for office development certificates for the dockland and South-wark Thamesside have been received from 1st January 1972, till the latest convenient date; how many have been granted; and how many have been refused.

Between 1st January 1972 and 31st December 1973 eight office development permits were issued for sites in the Dockland Study Area and Southwark Thamesside and five refused. I regret that comprehensive information on the number of applications received in the same period for the area in question is not readily available.