HC Deb 28 March 1973 vol 853 cc1296-7
22. Mr. Bagier

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a general direction to British Rail when advertising property for sale not to refer to it as being of interest to speculators.

Mr. Peyton

No, Sir.

Mr. Bagier

Will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his reply? In answer to a previous question of mine he said that it was not Government policy that speculators should be invited to answer advertisements for the sale of publicly-owned land. In the constituency of his right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Rippon), British Rail has published an advertisement referring to land being of interest to developers, investors and speculators. If the right hon. Gentleman will not issue a general directive to British Rail, will he excuse British Rail for thinking that that is Government policy?

Mr. Peyton

It is unnecessary to issue a directive. This term was used by estate agents, as I think the hon. Gentleman is aware, in the matter of the sale of the station site at Fourstones, near Hexham. The advertisement was used without the knowledge or approval of the British Railways Board, which has signified its disapproval.

Mr. Evelyn King

Is not the party political use of the term "speculator" now becoming a little ridiculous? May not anyone who builds a house for sale and thereafter sells it be called a speculator? If there were no speculators there would be no houses, and that would not be advantageous. Were not the houses in most of London's beautiful squares raised by speculators? Incidentally, No. 10 Downing Street was built by a speculator, but there has never been any unwillingness to occupy it.

Mr. Peyton

My hon. Friend has done his best to put the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Bagier) in his place. It is not for me, nor is it within my powers, to remedy the ridiculous.

Mr. Freeson

Leaving aside the logs of wood of which Downing Street was once built, is it still Government policy that any nationalised industry or Government Department that has surplus property available should make a first offer to the local authority in whose area that property is situated? More specifically, what is the Government's intention with regard to the 160 acres of land—identified by his Department—that British Rail has available for residential development in the London area, for purchase, we hope, by local authorities, or by others for that purpose?

Mr. Peyton

Hardly any of the hon. Gentleman's remarks arise on the Question, which relates to the site of the Four-stones station, near Hexham.