§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a taxation system that will(a) discourage the development of green-field sites and (b) encourage the development of brown-field land. [85459]
§ Ms HewittThe Government's policy is to discourage green-field development and to raise the proportion of new homes built on brown-field land. But this is an extremely complicated issue and needs careful analysis. Tax is just one factor in meeting housing policy objectives and it may not be the most effective. Land use planning clearly has a key role.