HC Deb 23 December 1964 vol 704 cc1225-7
30. Mr. Richard

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board to undertake a review of the land they hold, with a view to securing the release of the maximum amount of land for municipal housing purposes.

Mr. Tom Fraser

It would not be appropriate for me to issue such a direction. In general the disposal of surplus railway land is a matter within the management responsibility of the British Railways Board.

I would also refer my hon. Friend to the Answer he received from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 10th December.

Mr. Richard

While thanking the Minister for that Answer, may I ask him whether he is aware that in the Metropolitan area virtually the only available building land which does not need a house to be pulled down in order to build municipal housing on it is railway land? Can he do anything at all to speed up the release of this land for municipal housing purposes, particularly in the Metropolis?

Mr. Fraser

I very much hope that the announcement made the other day about the restriction on office building in London will make it clear to the Railways Board, among others, that the very expensive and valuable land which it has available for development will not be developed for the purposes of building offices, and that it may therefore become available for the building of houses.

Mr. Galbraith

But is that wise from the transport point of view? Surely if the railways have land available near a railway station, that is precisely the land which ought to be used for building offices, from a transport point of view? Will the right hon. Gentleman have a few words with the First Secretary of State to see whether it is possible to make some relaxation of the restrictions so that the railways may build offices, if they choose to do so, on land near railway stations?

Mr. Fraser

It would ease the commuter problem very considerably if employment were provided very close to the terminal point at which the workers disembark. I know that from this point of view the Railways Board is actively considering to what extent it can have development above railway stations as well as on railway lines nearby. But a great deal of the land which includes railway lines, which my hon. Friend suggested could be made available for housing, is not alongside railway stations at all.

Mr. Peter Emery

Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that before any land is released by the Railways Board, full consideration has been given to using the land near stations for car parking facilities for people using the railways? Does he realise that this is a considerable problem in areas outside London? The railways are attempting to encourage people to use commuter services, but these people have to block up many streets by car parking before they can get to the stations.

Mr. Fraser

The hon. Member makes a very good point. It is very desirable that some of these open spaces which are created by the demolition of properties alongside railway stations, should provide accommodation for car parking—I should have thought in many cases multi-storey car parks. That is a very desirable development, but I do not want to say more than I have said because the disposal of the land is a matter for the Railways Board.