§ 14. Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what acreage of building land has been acquired by the Land Commission; and at what average cost per acre.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Land Commission has so far acquired 1,394 acres at an average price of £3,448 per acre. I understand that it has approved proposals to acquire a further 8,600 acres and that it has under consideration at the moment another 17,000 acres.
§ Mr. AllasonIs any of this land earmarked for concessionary Crownhold which, the Minister will remember, was to bring down the price of land for small builders?
§ Mr. HowellI should want notice of detailed considerations of that kind.
§ Mr. William PriceMay I sympathise with my hon. Friend in being landed with the Land Commission? If he takes the advice of the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) and winds it up, in its place will he introduce a more radical measure designed to hammer the speculators and help young couples trying to buy their own homes?
§ Mr. HowellThe main reason for the Land Commission is that it produces land on which houses may he built and increasingly I shall be endeavouring to ensure that this policy is proved in fact.