§ 35. Mr. Boothbyasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that the development sections of the Town and Country Planning Act have, in practice, hampered and delayed the development and expansion of housing; and whether he will introduce amending legislation to overcome this difficulty.
§ 39. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware that the development sections of the Town and Country Planning Act have had an adverse effect upon all forms of development; and if he is proposing to introduce amending legislation to remove the discouraging effect of these sections.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning (Mr. Lindgren)My right hon. Friend will examine any evidence which either of the hon. Members would like to submit. There is, however, no prospect of amending legislation this Session.
§ 36. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware of the inconsistencies in methods employed in various parts of the United Kingdom by district valuers of the Inland Revenue, when computing development charges payable under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, upon extensions to industrial premises; and what stops he proposes to take to ensure uniform and equitable evaluation of such development charges.
§ Mr. LindgrenIf the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any such inconsistencies I shall be glad to look into them.
§ Mr. NabarroIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in the event of any difference of professional opinion as between the district valuer of the Inland Revenue and the adviser to the industry seeking expansion, there is no court of appeal or arbitration to which such difference can be referred?
§ Mr. LindgrenYes, Sir. That point was the subject of discussion in the last Parliament, both in this House and in another place.
§ Mr. NabarroWhat does the Parliamentary Secretary intend to do about these anomalies?
§ Mr. LindgrenWe are looking at the operation of the Act to see how, by administration, we can speed up and simplify the procedure. I cannot make any promise about legislation. It will require legislation to set up a court of appeal.
§ 41. Mr. Grimondasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will amend the Town and Country Planning Act so as to abolish the development charge on new houses built for owner-occupation in rural areas.
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir.
§ Mr. GrimondMay I ask the hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that in places such as Orkney and Shetland the effect of this charge is not to stop speculation or to raise revenue, but simply to hamper people in providing themselves with houses in the only way open to them?
§ Mr. LindgrenI am a brave man, but I think the hon. Member ought to address that question to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWill the hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that that Question and the supplementary question both indicate the abandonment by the Liberal Party of their belief in the taxation of land values?