HC Deb 28 April 1971 vol 816 c419
34. Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement about his plans to improve householders' rights to compensation; and when he hopes to introduce amending legislation.

Mr. Peter Walker

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster (Mrs. Kellett) on 10th March, good progress is being made on our review but it is too soon to make a statement about our proposals.—[Vol. 813, c. 400.]

Mr. Lane

Would my right hon. Friend continue to give a high priority to this programme? Would he agree that until the law is changed more and more individuals will suffer injustice as the scale of public development increases?

Mr. Walker

Yes, I recognise this problem. It is a complicated one affecting lighting, airports, motorways and further types of development. Alas, I must ask the House to be patient. We are proceeding as fast as possible.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that it is not only questions of compensation where public bodies are concerned but that this also affects private bodies when, for example, half of a semi-detached house is pulled down by the owner and the owner of the other half is unable to claim any compensation under the present law because the London Building Act does not yet apply to the whole nation?

Mr. Walker

Yes. We are examining the whole question of compensation and all its aspects.