HC Deb 14 December 1970 vol 808 cc932-3
17. Mr. Probert

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will give consideration to the placing of schemes for the clearance of derelict lands in the key sectors where Government Departments will have special responsibilities.

Mr. Peter Thomas

I think it is right that schemes for the clearance of derelict land should be among the locally-determined schemes for which local authorities have freedom to decide their own priorities.

Mr. Probert

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this new arrangement will no doubt have serious effects upon the schemes which local authorities have already budgeted for and that the inclusion within the local allocation, as it were, of the total cost of a scheme inevitably means that many schemes will have to be abandoned?

Mr. Peter Thomas

Well, I certainly hope that that is not right. If the hon. Gentleman has any information about any scheme which will be seriously affected I hope he will let me know, because I want to give every help to derelict land clearance, and I hope that local authorities will give it very high priority.

Mr. William Edwards

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman not look at my hon. Friend's suggestion again, and would he not accept that in many areas of Wales local authorities with a high degree of derelict land have sometimes grown accustomed to derelict land and that it would be helpful if the Government would take the initiative in relation to some of these schemes? Is he not aware that that was the experience of the Welsh Office under my right hon. Friend's administration?

Mr. Peter Thomas

I will certainly look into this, but: the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the grant arrangements are unchanged. Indeed, more money is to be available for grants, and the grants are very generous at 85 per cent. Together with rate support resources element, grants in many of these areas which have been referred to will amount to about 90 per cent.

Mr. Alec Jones

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that there are local authorities in Wales which are already planning certain schemes for the coming year and that they are afraid that under the loan sanction arrangements they will not be able to carry out the schemes they have proposed for the coming year?

Mr. Peter Thomas

I have said that I will look at these individual schemes, and if the hon. Gentleman will let me know what schemes he is referring to I will certainly look at them, but I see no reason why local authorities should be anxious.