HC Deb 12 April 1978 vol 947 cc1379-81
9. Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much land has been released for housing development in England, Scotland and Wales since the Community Land Act came into force.

Mr. Freeson

I am not sure what the hon. Member means by "released". There is enough land with planning permission for about six years' house building at present rates.

Mr. Renton

Is it not quite clear that what is meant by "released" is what has actually been made available from the local authorities for development? Is not the Minister frightened to give the answer because the statistics to date are absolutely appalling and pathetic? Is it not a fact that the Community Land Act, in terms of results, is proving the most expensive and disastrous venture by a Labour Government since the groundnut scheme?

Mr. Freeson

The hon. Gentleman may be confusing a number of Acts, ownerships of land and different sets of statistics, which he has not specified. The plain fact is that there is land available for house building on the scale to which I have referred. I have indeed recently met the House-Builders Federation, not for the first time, to discuss among other things land supply questions. I have invited the federation to identify, so far as it is able, specific areas where there are problems as it sees them. I shall be glad to pursue those problems. What is more, I shall be glad to advise local authorities—including the hon. Gentleman's own local authority—to buy land through CLA powers where local shortages are evidenced to me by the house builders.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Is the Minister aware that many of us want to thank him for the recent circular, which goes some way to making good the lack of application of the Community Land Act? There is a long way to go. In particular, will he ensure that land which has been disused for 10 years or 20 years, perhaps in dockland, is valued at its current use value—which is nil—and not at £20,000 or more, which is what is being asked for in many cases?

Mr. Freeson

On the latter point, I do not think that I can give a quick answer on valuation questions in that way. I do not think it would be correct to say simply and generally that all land which is at present disused, and has been disused for some time, is necessarily without value, any more than other disused objects—which have had a value in the past—would have a nil value today in such circumstances. It is rather more complicated than that.

On my hon. Friend's general point, I certainly agree with him that there is underused resource. There are local problems about land supply. I shall be glad to advise and have contact with local authorities which are in need of making land available if house builders supply the information—which I believe they will be doing shortly—as a result of my own contact with them.

Mr. Rifkind

Has not the Minister by his evasive answer in effect confirmed that all of the claims made during the passage of the Community Land Act were virtually groundless? How long is genuine development throughout the United Kingdom to be frustrated by the permanence of this legislation on the statute book?

Mr. Freeson

The simple answer to the hon. Gentleman's question is "No". The general answer is that he is talking without knowledge of the operation of the Act.

Mr. Renton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the totally unsatisfactory and evasive answer to my Question, I give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.