§ 23. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what decisions he has reached on the four outstanding submissions of compulsory purchase orders arising from his Circular 45/60; which borough councils made the submissions; when they were made; and what is the reason for the delay in reaching a decision.
§ Mr. H. BrookeWith permission, I will circulate particulars of the four cases in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In one case I shall be giving my decision very shortly. In the other three cases objections have been submitted, and under the statutory procedure it would therefore not be proper for me to comment at this stage.
§ Mr. RobinsonWhat the right hon. Gentleman is, in fact, saying is that not a single compulsory purchase order has been confirmed in the three months since the circular was issued. Does not that make nonsense of the claims he has made for the circular? How does he expect a threat to be effective if he is so obviously reluctant to carry out the threat?
§ Mr. BrookeI cannot accept a word of what the hon. Gentleman has said. I have to abide by the statutory procedure, which requires time to be left for objections to be lodged, and if objections are lodged then, in all probability a public 822 inquiry has to be held. I cannot ignore the law, and Parliament would not wish me to do so.
§ Following are the particulars:
| TABLE | |
| Compulsory Purchase Orders submitted under Circular 45/60 | |
| Local Authority | Date of Order |
| Hackney M. B. C. (Pembury Grove) | 15th September |
| Feltham U. D. C. | 26th September |
| Hackney M. B. C. (Cedra Court) | 3rd October |
| Edmonton B. C. | 6th October |