asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not make available to those interested the housing action area declaration reports.

Because these reports are not formal documents submitted to my right hon. Friend but working documents usually, though not necessarily, prepared by the officers of the individual local authority for consideration by the appropriate committee or by the council. The proposals in the report may well be amended by the local authority before actual declaration of the housing action area. Copies of the declaration report and of other relevant documents are available for inspection at such places and times as the local authority concerned may determine.