§ 10. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay an official visit to the Pill redevelopment scheme of Newport, Monmouthshire.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI have no plans to do so at present.
§ Mr. HughesIf the Secretary of State were to do so is he aware that he would find that owner-occupiers are very dissatisfied with the compensation being paid for their homes, which they feel is quite inadequate and does not provide them with sufficient money to buy similar property in an equivalent area? Would he not agree that the compensation being paid is now completely out of line with escalating market values?
§ Mr. ThomasI was aware that there were expressions of dissatisfaction about compensation. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have no function in the assessment of compensation. The basis of assessment is laid down by Statute and disputes lie to the land tribunal, an independent tribunal.