§ 31. Mr. Arthur Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress has been made with regard to release of land for residential development by Government Departments and British Rail; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RipponIn 1972 about 7,400 acres of surplus land were disposed of by Government Departments and 7,500 by British Rail. Information is not available on the amounts used for house building. The Government will release additional land as soon as it becomes surplus, and the nationalised industries are being urged to do the same.
§ Mr. JonesWill my right hon. and learned Friend say whether the announcement made yesterday by our right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer includes Government land and British Rail land?
§ Mr. RipponIt would be wise to await the details of the proposals—which I shall lay before the House in due course—setting out the way in which the land hoarding charge might work. My hon. Friend will realise that a great deal of progress has been made in this matter in the last year or so.
§ Mr. KaufmanWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman put a rocket behind British Rail—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—and Mr. Richard Marsh, personally, in order to make them at last do something to clear up the derelict land at Broom Lane, Levenshulme, Manchester? It is a 410 health hazard and a danger to children. It has been festering for too long, and something must be done about it.
§ Mr. RipponWe could certainly do with a driver or two. I will bear in mind the hon. Gentleman's constituency point.