asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of national environmental interest in the site, he will call in the planning applications currently before Alnwick District Council for the building of six bungalows and five houses in the grounds of Crag-side, Rothbury.

No. I understand that the Alnwick District Council, which is dealing with this application for planning permission, considers that the proposal does not constitute a fundamental departure from the provisions of the development plan and that it is neither a county matter nor one which should be referred to the Secretary of State. In my view this is a matter which the properly elected local authority is quite competent to decide.