§ 1. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will introduce legislation to restrict the price of land in popular shopping areas.
§ The Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (Sir Keith Joseph)No, Sir.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the effect of these exorbitant prices, first on articles in shops, secondly in prohibiting small shopkeepers from obtaining sites, and thirdly on the rents for the flats which will be built 196 above the shops? Is he aware that recently in Slough High Street a site has been sold at £1 million an acre or £3,500 per foot of frontage? Will the right hon. Gentleman stop this robbery by private interests of values created by the community?
§ Sir K. JosephThe hon. Member represents a very prosperous area and he must expect high prices to follow high demand. As for the small shopkeepers, I recognise that to them this may be a real problem, and I shall be given advice to local authorities at length on this problem soon.
§ Mr. M. StewartWill the right hon. Gentleman realise that these high prices go into the hands of private persons who have added nothing to the total wealth of the nation and that as long as the Government allow this it is complete nonsense to talk of an incomes policy?
§ Sir K. JosephThe public are well served by management initiative in shops as in anything else and the enlivenment and vitality of our city centres themselves are of much benefit to the public.