§ 24. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that, following the issue of a Building Preservation Order, local authorities will be required to carry out essential repairs to the building designated in the order.
§ Mr. RipponMy right hon. Friend has no power to require the repair of buildings in respect of which a building preservation order has been made.
§ Mr. BoydenWould it not be a good thing if the hon. Gentleman took it now? Are not far too many buildings being destroyed because they are just left and nobody takes any interest in them?
§ Mr. RipponI do not think that it is necessary to take any further power. Section 41 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, authorises the compulsory acquisition of buildings in appropriate cases. There is also power to acquire by agreement, and there are various powers which enable grants to be made in proper cases.