HC Deb 07 March 1973 vol 852 cc393-4
14. Mr. David Clark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the operation of his policies for the clearance of derelict industrial buildings.

Mr. Graham Page

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Clark

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his honest and illuminating reply. Is he aware that many of these areas with derelict industrial buildings are areas of rural rateable value? Does he realise that many local authorities are unable to take advantage of the Government's help to clear these industrial eyesores? Will he consider giving a 100 per cent. central Government grant for the removal of derelict industrial buildings?

Mr. Page

In development areas there is the 85 per cent. grant, in derelict land and land clearance areas there is the 75 per cent. grant, and with the resources element that sometimes comes up to a 95 per cent. grant in particular areas. We have altered the rules on industrial buildings and include those as derelict if they really are derelict and come within the grant. I think that I have answered that pretty well without a brief.

Mr. Oakes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hesitation and dilatoriness with which he answered that question is paralleled only by his Department in tackling the serious problem of industrial dereliction? Will he look particularly at the North of England and the Midlands, and realise that many of these industrial buildings are not only ugly but are extremely dangerous to children? Many children are killed each year in these derelict buildings. Will he step up the programme of clearing these industrial sites?

Mr. Page

Yes, but this depends entirely on the local authorities. I welcome any local authority which wishes to carry out such clearance. There is no obstruction whatever. It is open-ended, so far as they are concerned. I hope that the speed with which I have answered the hon. Gentleman now makes up for any dilatoriness at the start.

Mr. John

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that in areas of poverty there is often a gap of years before local authorities can acquire land in order to remove derelict buildings? Does not he think that a grant to the nationalised industries would secure that the dereliction was removed before the sites upon which they stood were vacated?

Mr. Page

I think that on the whole the programme for the clearance of derelict land is going well. About three times as much has been cleared this year as last. There has been a substantial increase. I do not think that anything further could be taken up, but this is open-ended so far as local authorities are concerned.