HC Deb 07 May 1958 vol 587 cc1192-3
6. Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what compensation will be paid to the property owners and occupiers in the area north of Albert Road, Devonport, in respect of the hardship and loss of trade they have suffered by the fact that his Department has changed its plan for the development of this area.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith)

We have been forced to reduce the dockyard extension area, and regret any hardship to individuals which this may have caused. Compensation in planning matters is fixed by reference to Statute, and there is no such authority to cover cases of this sort.

Miss Vickers

In view of the fact that the hon. Gentleman has agreed to pay compensation amounting to over £12,000 to the city council, how is it that he cannot pay compensation to the individual owners of properties who have been expecting the Admiralty to take over their properties since 1945?

Mr. Galbraith

The cases are really quite different. The council bought a site for a new shopping centre as part of the phased programme to help the dockyard extension plan to go forward. Having incurred this expenditure to help the Admiralty, its claim to compensation was perfectly valid.

7. Miss Vickers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why he has not included in his proposed new development area between Charlotte Street and Garden Street, Devonport, the row of small dwellings facing Charlotte Street.

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith

To include this row of houses, we should have to buy 11 of them, all occupied, and then knock them down. This would be extremely expensive, and I do not consider the circumstances would justify it.

Miss Vickers

In view of the fact that the hon. Gentleman's Department already owns 22 cottages, and that he will be forced to sell a great many of them, at a loss to the Admiralty, would not it be a better idea to buy the remaining 11 and develop the site according to good town planning instead of leaving a row of old cottages in this area?

Mr. Galbraith

I can well understand that the hon. Lady may feel a little disappointed at my reply, but she must not under-estimate how much she has achieved. As a result of her suggestions backing up the city council, the Admiralty has modified its intention to hand back the whole of this area. We are using some of it to build as many naval married quarters as is financially reasonable, and we are paying compensation where we can. If we have not met the wishes of the hon. Lady and of her constituents in every particular, it is only because that is beyond our power.