HC Deb 10 May 1965 vol 712 cc6-7
13. Mr. Urwin

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will take steps to enable local authorities to acquire land for recreation purposes.

Mr. Skeffington

Local authorities already have full powers to acquire land for recreation purposes, either by agreement or compulsorily. However, I am aware that some local authorities are discouraged from buying land for open space by the price that they will have to pay for it, but for any solution of this I must ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of legislation for the Land Commission.

Mr. Urwin

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I sincerely trust that he will keep in his right hon. Friend's mind the necessity to enable land to be procured at much cheaper prices than have hitherto obtained in this respect?

Mr. Skeffington

That is very much in the Government's mind, as I expect my hon. Friend knows.

Mr. Corfield

Will the hon. Member give an undertaking that his words do not imply that we shall go back to a two-tier system of prices by which the price is determined by who buys and not by the inherent value of the land?

Mr. Skeffington

I think I must ask the hon. Member to await the legislation and the White Paper.

Mr. George Jeger

Is my hon. Friend aware of large tracts of land, particularly in industrial areas, which are disfigured by spoil heaps? Is he aware that if some initiative were taken by the Government in having talks with the National Coal Board and local authorities it might well be that some of this land could be reclaimed at a reasonable price for recreational purposes?

Mr. Skeffington

This is one of the matters which is being considered by the Ministry.

Mr. John Wells

Will the Minister bear in mind the particular difficulties of areas of Kent near Maidstone and Greater London about which I have written to him recently?

Mr. Skeffington

We will bear that very much in mind.