HC Deb 12 May 1971 vol 817 cc359-61
17. Mr. Benyon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following his review of the matter, he will introduce legislation to revise the law governing compensation in cases involving compulsory purchase, in view of the need for changes in the law in relation to areas designated for new towns.

19. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his proposals regarding the reform of the law regarding compensation for planning blight.

Mr. Peter Walker

I shall announce details of our proposals when our comprehensive review of the Compensation Code has been concluded. This review is going ahead with all speed.

Mr. Benyon

Will my right hon. Friend accept that there are strong feelings of injustice at present about the operation of the present law and that this is particularly so among farmers, who find that the compensation which they are receiving is insufficient for them to restart farming in a like manner elsewhere? Will he have strong regard for the representations which have been made by the National Farmers' Union and others on this question?

Mr. Walker

Yes, Sir, but I ask my hon. Friend to regard the total complexity of the problem, which involves not just farmers, shopkeepers and commercial interests, but the owners of household property, problems of planning blight, roads and so on. Therefore, it is an immense task which we are undertaking. We are doing it with all speed.

Mr. Blaker

I fully understand the complexity of the task and the importance of getting the decisions reached. Would the Minister say whether he hopes to introduce legislation in the next Parliamentary Session?

Mr. Walker

I cannot give that assurance, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that as soon as we have come to conclusions, we shall publish a White Paper and enter into discussions with the various organisations concerned, with the N.F.U., farming interests, and other people. I hope to introduce legislation at the earliest possible date.

Mr. Leonard

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider, as the previous Government announced over a year ago that it would be right to introduce legislation on planning blight, that a decision is long overdue? There are thousands of households throughout the country who are suffering from uncertainty, inconvenience and hardship because of the Minister dragging his feet on this matter.

Mr. Walker

On the contrary, when I arrived at the Ministry I discovered that the work on planning was totally inadequate.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Some of us have been urging action in regard to this matter for a great many years. Will the Minister confirm that his proposals will include an extension of the provisions for compensation for any injurious affection due to motorways, airfields and the like, where no land is compulsorily taken, which is a gap in the present law? Will he also improve the position with regard to compensation at site value in respect of clearance areas, where some hardship is suffered at present?

Mr. Walker

I know the long interest that my right hon. and learned Friend has taken in this topic. He will understand that I cannot at this stage start giving the detail of what our plans will be. But I assure him that the matters which he has mentioned will be given careful consideration.

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