HC Deb 08 December 1982 vol 33 cc833-4
3. Mr. Stevens

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider increasing the number of disposal orders he makes relating to the 96,553 acres of underutilised or unused land currently appearing in the register set up by him; and if he is satisfied with the progress made so far.

14. Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of vacant land currently listed in the registers of local authorities have been sold since the registers were first established.

Mr. Heseltine

I have not yet exercised my power under section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to direct the disposal of unused public land, but there are a number of instances where I am now considering doing so.

A total of 2,454 acres have been disposed of or brought into use in the 35 districts where land registers were published last year, and 4,485 acres are on the market. Figures for the rest of England, where registers were published earlier this year, will be available next month.

Mr. Stevens

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that relatively encouraging reply. Does he agree that it is still pretty complicated to make disposal orders on public vacant land? Will his Department take steps to simplify and speed up the process?

Mr. Heseltine

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interest. The procedures are laid down by statute and we must operate within the statutory provisions. However, I believe that it is necessary for us to move forward on this front and I am making decisions accordingly.

Mr. Proctor

Why have so few acres been sold? What is my right hon. Friend doing to accelerate sales?

Mr. Heseltine

The first 35 registers have resulted in about 2,500 acres being disposed of or brought into use. That is not a bad result in the relatively short time that the registers have existed. We are anxious to make progress, and teams from the private sector and the valuation offices are examining the sites on the registers and making decisions on what use is appropriate for them and on what further progress we can make.

Mr. Allan Roberts

Is the Minister aware that through his policy of using the Merseyside Development Corporation, for example, he has brought more land into public ownership than his policies have forced local authorities to sell? What will he do about unused land that is owned by the Merseyside Development Corporation, which has been reclaimed, if developers do not come on to it, which is likely?

Mr. Heseltine

I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman has such little faith in Merseyside that he is able to make such unfounded allegations. Most of the land taken over by the Merseyside Development Corporation was owned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. It is now being developed at public expense to bring about one of the largest urban reclamation schemes this century. I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would welcome that.

Mr. Steen

As my right hon. Friend says that the statute is delaying progress and is stopping the sale of acres of derelict land, will he do something about changing the statute?

Mr. Heseltine

I am sorry that my hon. Friend feels that that is what I said. That was not the impression that I wanted to give. The procedures by which we can direct the disposal of the land are governed by statute. We intend to use the procedures and we are now preparing ourselves so to do.