HC Deb 16 March 1944 vol 398 cc383-6
30. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that local authorities are anxiously awaiting further legislation about land to facilitate their plans; and whether such legislation will be introduced this Session.

31. Mr. Boothby

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether his attention has been called to the reiterated appeal of the lord mayors and mayors of certain bombed cities for legislation to enable them to prepare the necessary plans for reconstruction; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

34. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what action he proposes to take in response to the appeal by the lord mayors of Plymouth, Portsmouth, Norwich, Hull, Sheffield, Bristol, the mayors of Exeter, Swansea, Birkenhead, Salford, Wallasey, Bootle and Coventry, to the Government to introduce forthwith the long-promised legislation to enable preparations to be made for demobilisation by planning towns and purchasing land.

The Minister of Town and Country Planning (Mr. W. S. Morrison)

I have seen the appeal referred to and can assure hon. Members that a Bill will be introduced during the present Session, as promised in the King's Speech.

Lieutenant-Colonel Dower

Will there be a statement similar to that which the Minister of Health made the other day, so that we can have an indication of what is to be in the Bill?

Mr. Morrison

I think hon. Members will have the Bill itself first.

Mr. Shinwell

The Minister says the Bill will be introduced in the present Session. Will it be introduced before the legislation on housing promised by the Minister of Health is introduced?

Mr. Morrison

I should like notice of that question. The Bill will be introduced in time, I hope, for it to be passed, in order to secure the purposes for which it is designed.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not necessary, in view of what transpired during the Debate yesterday, and in view of the general dissatisfaction of the House with the housing proposals of the Government, that the Minister's Bill should be introduced before the legislation on housing promised by the Minister of Health?

Mr. Morrison

I will consider that question and see if I can do anything to meet the point.

Mr. Mander

In view of the delay in dealing with this matter, can the Minister say whether he is dealing with it on the basis that we have all eternity before us?

Mr. Morrison

No, Sir.

Mr. Silverman

Will the Minister say when it is proposed to appoint the Commission that was contemplated by the Act under which his office was created?

Mr. Morrison

The Commission's powers will have to be defined in the legislation before it can be appointed.

Mr. J. J. Davidson

Surely, this is a matter in which the Leader of the House can now advise the House whether actual co-operation is taking place between the various Departments concerned in housing?

Mr. Morrison

I can myself assure the hon. Member that co-operation of that kind is taking place.

32. Mr. Boothby

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether His Majesty's Government have now reached any conclusions on the Reports of the Barlow, Scottor Uthwatt Committees; and what action is proposed to be taken to implement them.

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Skipton (Mr. H. Lawson) on 17th February, 1944, of which I am sending him a copy and to which I have at present nothing to add.

Mr. Boothby

Can the Minister tell us why it has taken, not only months, but years, for the Government to reach any conclusions on these Reports?

Mr. Morrison

I have been in office during only a comparatively recent period, but I can assure the hon. Member that the issues involved are of extreme importance and great complexity, and it is a matter that affects every home in the country and ought to be well considered.

33. Mr. Boothby

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will give an assurance that it is still the policy of His Majesty's Government that payment of compensation in respect of land purchased by public authorities shall be made on the basis of the values which obtained in 1939.

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I would refer my hon. Friend to the latter part of the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 28th October, 1943, of which I am sending him a copy and to which at present I have nothing to add.

Mr. Boothby

Is the Minister aware that speculative purchases of land are continuing up and down the country; and does he not think it would be rather better to apply the ceiling of 1939, without unfairly affecting a number of people?

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the Minister whether, if I put a suitable Question down, he will explain what the 1939 ceiling is, as there was no valuation then, and it cannot be applied?

Mr. Morrison

I shall be very interested to see my hon. Friend's essay at drafting a Question which would elicit that information.

35. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether any decision has been arrived at by the Government with regard to the proposals of the Uthwatt Report for vesting development rights in unbuilt-up land in the State.

Mr. W. S. Morrison

No, Sir; but the Government hope to make a statement at an early date.

Mr. Mander

Can the Minister say whether it is the case, as stated in the Press, that the Uthwatt recommendation on this point has been turned down by the Government, together with the Minister's own proposals?

Mr. Morrison

I can assure the hon. Member that my proposals have not been turned down. They are being considered.

Mr. Mander

Have not the Uthwatt proposals been turned down?

Mr. Morrison

A large number of the Uthwatt proposals have already been accepted.

Mr. Mander

On a point of Order. I asked the Minister about a specific point. I did not want a reply of a general nature.

Mr. Morrison

On this matter, it is impossible to give a categorical reply. There are features in the Uthwatt proposals which may be embodied in the ultimate proposals put before the House. It is not one single set of proposals, but a vast, interlocking system.