§ 19. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government proposes to give to local authorities planning town centres in meeting the heavy cost of the purchase of land and property for this purpose.
§ Mr. CorfieldLocal authorities are being given power to defer repayment of loans for a limited period during the unremunerative stages of town centre redevelopment schemes. Furthermore, as my right hon. Friend informed the House on 10th February, the Government accept the need to overhaul the existing system of planning and highway grants in light of the Buchanan Report, and this is being examined jointly by the Departments concerned.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhat is the Department doing about the extortionate increase in land values? Is the hon. Gentleman aware, for example, that in Slough High Street in June last year it cost the council £133,000 for a 38 ft. frontage, which works out at £1 million per acre? Is he aware that this year 223 the council has had to pay at the rate of £2 million an acre for shops in the High Street? What is he going to do about this robbery of the community?
§ Mr. CorfieldThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that by definition land in a town centre is limited in supply. The only way that either my right hon. Friends or hon. Members opposite will lower the cost of such land is to increase the supply.
§ Mr. M. StewartDoes the Parliamentary Secretary remember that it is now some months since his right hon. Friend expressed the view that there was need for new machinery to secure the public acquisition of land? When may we expect a statement about the establishment of this new machinery?
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend made it quite clear that he was referring in that context to major plans for town redevelopment, which is a rather different matter from town centre redevelopment.
§ Mr. HockingWhat advice has been given to local authorities to draw their attention to the need to redevelop their town centres by the normal commercial methods of co-operation with property companies? Has advice been given to this effect?
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend has published a bulletin on the subject which has been sent to all local authorities. I will send my hon. Friend a copy.
§ Mr. BrockwayOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory replies to the last two Questions, I indicate that I wish to raise these matters on the Adjournment.
§ Mr. SpeakerYes, but I think that the hon. Member by rule has to apply that notice to one Question only, otherwise we get into a muddle.
§ 23. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many town centre schemes were approved in 1963.
§ Mr. CorfieldTwenty-three.
§ Mr. BoydenThis is far too slow. Does not the Parliamentary Secretary consider that a greater sense of urgency is needed in his own Department and 224 that he ought to convey that to the local authorities?
§ Mr. CorfieldYes. I agree entirely that we ought to speed up, and we are endeavouring to do so. Certain proposals will be put to local authorities very shortly, and arrangements are being made in my Department to speed up this procedure. I am glad to say that already there is quite a marked increase in the pace at which it is being dealt with.
§ Mr. Sydney IrvingDoes the Parliamentary Secretary recall that he told me that there were fifty-two outstanding in June last year, let alone those which have come in since? Does he not recognise that this is a very serious deterioration in the last eight or nine months? Is it not holding up the vital work of remodernising our town centres? Will he do something about it quickly?