To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason hon. Members for constituencies in the East of England were not informed of the (a) launch and (b) publication of the East of England plan until the morning of publication; and if she will make a statement. (206882)

A revision to a regional spatial strategy should be published through the laying of a ministerial statement in the House. This publication statement was laid in the House at 9:30am on Monday 12 May and an event to launch the East of England plan was held in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, at noon on Monday 12 May. However, I understand that hon. Members in the East of England are very interested in how their constituencies are affected by the policies in the plan.

With that in mind, the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East) made every effort to ensure that hon. Members were invited to attend the event on Monday 12 May. GO-East officials first telephoned the offices of all hon. Members for the East of England on Friday 9 May to invite members to hear “a regionally significant announcement on planning in the East of England”. This was followed with an email to those offices which were not contactable by telephone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which persons were advised of the date of (a) launch and (b) publication of the East of England plan prior to 12 May 2008; who was invited to the launch; when the invitation to each was sent; and if she will make a statement. (206883)

A revision to a regional spatial strategy should be published through the laying of a ministerial statement in the House. This publication statement was laid in the House at 9:30am on Monday 12 May and an event to launch the East of England plan was held in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, at noon on Monday 12 May.

The Government Office for the East of England (GO-East) invited hon. Members for the East of England and representatives of all local authorities in the region, the East of England Regional Assembly, the East of England Development Agency, the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency, Natural England, English Heritage and local delivery vehicles to attend an event with “a regionally significant announcement on planning in the East of England”, GO-East telephoned all the invitees on Friday 9 May.