HC Deb 26 July 1962 vol 663 cc1710-1

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

13. Mr. MACCOLL

TO ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the recent official visit of the Parliamentary Secretary to Widnes; and what assistance he will give towards the rehabilitation of derelict and unsightly industrial land in the town.

Mr. MacColl

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should apologise to the House for being caught up by the progress of events, since this Question refers to a Minister who is now the Minister of Pensions.

Mr. Erroll

I have been caught up by the progress of events, too. The main purpose of my right hon. Friend's visit to Widnes was to open the Ditton Industrial Estate. He also visited some of the new developments in the Merseyside area. As Widnes is not a development district the powers provided by the Local Employment Act, 1960, for the rehabilitation of derelict or unsightly land cannot be exercised there.

Mr. MacColl

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that what he is saying is that nowhere in Lancashire can this assistance be given for clearing derelict sites? Will he consider, with the hon. Gentleman the Member for Preston, South, whether he thinks it is desirable, in an area which is extremely anxious to get rid of the effects of years of capitalist neglect in the past, to assist it to get industry and to get it on to new and decent sites?

Mr. Erroll

Assistance for this desirable purpose can only be given in accordance with the terms of the Local Employment Act, 1960. Such assistance can be made available to development districts or to areas which are adjacent to development districts which can help the development districts themselves. In other cases, it is a matter for the local authorities in consultation with the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

Dame Irene Ward

Does my right hon. Friend realise the extent of his reply? Is he aware that a great many people think that the Local Employment Act needs reconsideration and reconstruction because a great deal of it is really out of tune with what might be done? Why should an unsightly site in an area draw grant and another in another area not draw grant? Ugly things are ugly whatever area they are in.

Mr. Erroll

The purpose of the Act is to help employment in what are defined as development districts. It was thought there should be powers to remove unsightly heaps and the like in such areas as an inducement to attract industry to those areas. To remove every ugly sight throughout the country goes very much wider than the Act.