§ 1. Mr. Reynoldsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs in how many cases he has suggested to local authorities that they should make compulsory purchase orders on housing property at present held under requisition in order that they may continue to use it for housing purposes when requisitioning comes to an end.
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Mr. Henry Brooke)None. The question whether they need to make compulsory purchase orders is entirely for local authorities to settle for themselves. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular No. 18/59, dated 11th March. which is the latest to be sent to local authorities for their guidance on this matter.
§ Mr. ReynoldsIs not the Minister aware that his officers are actually consulting the officers of local authorities and suggesting that one way of dealing with the problem is by making compulsory purchase orders and that Metropolitan boroughs are making large numbers of compulsory purchase orders on hundreds of properties at the moment? Whilst this is welcome from some points of view, it puts the owner of the property in the invidious position of having a right of appeal only to the Minister whose officers have suggested that his property should be compulsorily purchased.
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. My officers are doing nothing that goes beyond the terms of the circular of 11th March, which indicated compulsory purchase as one course of action, but only as a last resort.