Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has joined the debate over Oxford's future economic growth - on the side of further expansion.

As the Oxford Mail revealed on March 22, the city and county councils are locked in disagreement over the issue, with the county writing in a policy of restricting new employment into the new County Structure Plan, and the city favouring further economic expansion.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Smith said: "You can put me in the expansion camp.

"The city does need to be able to grow, but common sense must reign. And the planned development should enhance, not damage, the environment."

He added: "You cannot simply say 'No More' if we are to reap the benefits for our community, rather than see them go elsewhere. We need responsible and planned growth if we are not to strangle the golden goose."

With economic growth comes growth in housing demand. Mr Smith said that in nearly all his meetings with Oxford residents, the demand for housing was top of the agenda. About one in 20 Oxford children are now in some sort of homeless accommodation.

He said that without some Green Belt development the city would continue to suffer from the "pressure cooker" effect, with ever greater pressure on green spaces within the city and the possibility of more houses being turned into homes for multiple occupation.

He said: "The unique character of Oxford has grown up through there being green lungs in and around the city.

"Well planned development in the Green Belt could provide homes with access to green spaces that have more biodiversity than some homes in truly agricultural land."

He said it was impossible to maintain that the city's share of the 140,000 extra houses a year recommended in the Barker Report and the Budget, should all be built in outlying towns such as Witney and Bicester. Such action would simply lead to more commuter traffic, causing pollution and congestion, since Oxford was where many jobs were located.