HC Deb 24 March 1970 vol 798 cc1183-5
5. Mr. Tilney

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek powers to give help to local authorities towards acquiring property not needed for new roadway development but deleteriously affected by such development.

Mr. Bob Brown

I have nothing to add to what I said in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 3rd March.—[Vol. 797, c. 82.]

Mr. Tilney

Since as long ago as March, 1968, the late Mr. Swingler said that the Government were studying this problem, is the Minister now aware of the unfair effect of so much urban development on owners of properties just outside the land take? Will he not do something now to see that those owners are not penalised by development for the public good?

Mr. Brown

We are well aware of the situation. That is why the announcement was made on 27th February in this House. No definite proposal has been announced as yet for legislation on injurious affection. There are various possibilities, including wider powers of acquisition, insurance schemes and a better scheme to minimise environmental damage. These continue to be studied in consultation with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

8. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average time required for the planning and land acquisition stage in road construction; what consultations he is holding with a view to shortening this period; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bob Brown

On average four to five years from the date of selection of the scheme for the preparation pool or list, but there are wide variations from the average due to the size and complexity of individual schemes.

The Department has consulted the local authority associations and other bodies on proposals to amend some of the statutory procedural requirements when an opportunity for legislation occurs. Meanwhile a number of administrative improvements have been introduced within the existing law, and we are constantly exploring with local authorities the possibility of further improvements.

Mr. Lewis

Does not that answer clearly indicate that all the new roads which have been built since hon. Members opposite got into office were planned and created by the Tory Government?—[Interruption.] That is not the main point that I wanted to ask the hon. Gentleman about. Does he realise that the Sixth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates suggested that it was necessary to give better information to the public in general and to those affected and not just to publish the normal statutory advertisement? Will he think about this?

Mr. Brown

Irrespective of what the hon. Gentleman has just said, no one can deny that we are building the roads as well as planning them for the future. As to the hon. Gentleman's second point, the processes are lengthy, and we are trying to shorten them all the time, but they are lengthy because the preparation, design and various statutory procedures must be properly conducted, and the right balance must be struck between the community and the individual.