§ 22. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Health what is the total area of land required by Eastbourne Town Council for housing purposes in addition to three acres at the junction of Church dale Road and Northbourne Road; what area of this land has been acquired; and if he will state the purchase price and the previous rateable value.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Willink)None of the 37½ acres still required has yet been finally acquired for housing purposes, but sites totalling about seven acres have been or are being appropriated from other statutory purposes. I regret that in these latter cases it is not possible to give the particulars asked for in the last part of the Question.
§ Mr. StokesWhy is it not possible to give the information? If I put the Question down again, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman be able to provide the information at a later date?
§ Mr. WillinkNo, Sir. Appropriation takes place on the basis of current value and not on an apportioned part of the original purchase price. My hon. Friend will appreciate that in the case of appropriation the conditions are different.
§ Mr. StokesWhy is it not permissible to tell the House what the appropriation value was?
§ Mr. WillinkBecause my hon. Friend has asked for the purchase price, which is not relevant.
§ Mr. StokesIf I put a Question down asking for the appropriation price, will the Minister tell us that?
§ Mr. WillinkYes, Sir.
§ 23. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Health why it was necessary for the L.C.C. to resort to a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of 921 acres on the Oxhey site at Watford for post-war housing; what price is being paid for this land; and what was its previous rateable value.
§ Mr. WillinkI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10th May.
§ Mr. StokesAs that answer was not an oral one delivered in the House, and never reached me, can the right hon. Gentleman tell me, or must I look it up in Hansard?