HC Deb 07 May 1968 vol 764 cc185-7
8. Mr. Eyre

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent the number of staff in the regional offices of the Land Commission has been reduced: and what further reductions are due to take place during the next six months.

Mr. MacDermot

Ninety-two since 1st January, 1968. The extent of further reductions depends on organisation and methods studies now taking place.

Mr. Eyre

Is the Minister aware that getting rid of staff so recently recruited makes it evident that the Act was a mistake and unworkable? Will he undertake to speed the process of reducing unwarrantable public expenditure?

Mr. MacDermot

That would be a wholly illogical conclusion to draw. It would be very surprising if the staffing arrangements made before the Act proved to be exactly the right figures. It is quite normal in setting up new organisations for some variations in the numbers of staff to take place in the early stages.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when the Act was passed one of the chief criticisms of hon. Members opposite was that it would take too many staff to operate?

9. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the work to date of the Midlands Division of the Land Commission based on Birmingham; how many officials are employed there; what building development land they have acquired to date since the establishment of the Commission; and, having regard to diminished operations of the Commission, what attenuation of duties in the Midlands he now proposes for the Commission.

Mr. MacDermot

The Commission is at present negotiating for the acquisition of 391 acres in the West Midlands Region. None of the negotiations has yet reached completion. The Commission is investigating a further 2,900 acres. The present staff of the region is 124. The Commission's operations are not diminishing.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is it not an accepted fact that the purpose of the Commission is to acquire building development land first, and to collect the betterment levy second? As both those purposes are unfulfilled—no progress has been made in the Midlands whatever—and in view of the derisory figures given by the right hon. Gentleman today, why does not he wind up the outfit—write it off as an expensive flop, in the words of his hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price)?

Mr. MacDermot

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will wait for the answers to later Questions which deal with the subject matter of his supplementary question.

10. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the staff of the Land Commission at 6th April, 1968; what is the total cost of such staff per annum, including salaries, pensions, accommodation and perquisites; and, having regard to the diminishing work of the Commission in its second year of operation, what economies in costs for the Land Commission he proposes.

Mr. MacDermot

1,389, Sir. In 1967–68 total costs were £3,334,000—including £1,140,000 for services provided by other Departments. These cost figures are provisional until the Accounts are published. Assessed pension liability would add approximately £317,000. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have just given to a Question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) concerning staff reductions. Other economies are being made where appropriate.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is not the Minister thoroughly ashamed of those extravagant figures, which represent no progress whatever? Would not he now join the Tory philosophy and say that this outfit will be disbanded at an early date as a total flop?

Mr. MacDermot

The hon. Gentleman's supplementary questions are becoming a little repetitious. The answer is "No".

Mr. Rippon

Is the Minister aware that the Treasury has advised his Department that it should send to the Land Commission only those people who are near retirement age? Will he, therefore, try to speed up some of the reductions in staff and bear in mind that we on this side of the House intend to repeal the Act and abolish the Commission at the earliest opportunity?

Mr. MacDermot

I am not aware of what the right hon. and learned Gentleman asserted.

Mr. Farr rose——

Sir G. Nabarro

On a point of order. In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory answers, I beg leave to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at a very early date. I apologise to my hon. Friend.