HC Deb 12 December 1979 vol 975 cc1288-9
9. Mr. Murphy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that the expertise and knowledge acquired during the establishment of the new towns is made available to the inner cities in older conurbations.

21. Mr. Lyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that the knowledge and expertise acquired during the establishment of the new towns is made available to the inner cities in older conurbations.

Mr. Heseltine

The urban development corporations which I propose to set up for London and Merseyside Docklands will be modelled on the new town development corporations. Several of the new towns are setting a useful example through the improvement of the older settlements now absorbed into their areas.

Mr. Murphy

I thank my right hon. Friend for that assurance. Does he agree that considerable benefit can be gained by involving private capital and private ownership at an earlier rather than a later stage in the development?

Mr. Heseltine

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I believe that that is one of the essential litmus papers by which the success of UDCs will be judged.

Mr. Spearing

The Minister knows that 8,000 houses await completion in my constituency as part of the Beckton district plan. Will he give that plan the go-ahead and confirm the Docklands strategic plan so that regeneration may go ahead as soon as possible?

Mr. Heseltine

The hon. Gentleman knows that the Beckton plan is an independent proceeding. I am anxious to bring as much urgency as I can to the development of Docklands.

Mr. Bevan

Will my right hon. Friend consider forming an old town corporation run on new town corporation lines for inner areas where local authorities and national undertakings are hoarding land and leaving that land sterile and derelict?

Mr. Heseltine

I am grateful to my hon. Friend because I think that he has defined exactly what the urban development corporations will do.