Written question asked by Lord Hanningfield (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Andrews (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2008.

Planning: Eco-towns

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date Mr David Lock ceased to be employed as a government adviser on planning and eco-towns; and on how many occasions Ministers or officials have met him since that date.

Answer: Professor David Lock was employed as chief planning adviser to the Department of Environment from 1994 to 1997. However, he has never been employed as government adviser on eco-towns. The Government asked the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) to advise them on some of the concepts and rationale for eco-towns when the initiative was first announced in March 2007, and at that time Professor Lock was chair of the TCPA. The TCPA continues to advise the Government on the practical application of the key sustainability and development criteria for eco-towns, but this advice is generic and available to all. It does not relate to the assessment of any individual schemes and neither the TCPA nor Professor Lock has any role in that.

Secondary information