Craigavon (Surplus Land)

HC Deb 12 May 1983 vol 42 cc913-4

22. Mr. McCusker

asked the Secretary for State for Northern Ireland when he intends to dispose of the surplus land at Craigavon, county Armagh.

Mr. David Mitchell

Disposal by way of offer to former land owners will commence this summer.

Mr. McCusker

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he now put on record what he has told me privately, namely, that he will arrange for the return of land to the very small number of my constituents who had it taken from them 17 years ago and have never received compensation? Now that the land is no longer required, will the hon. Gentleman say that it will be returned to them without cost to them?

Mr. Mitchell

This matter is under urgent review. I hope to be able to move in the way that the hon. Gentleman requests, but it is necessary to understand the implications, which are wider than those of just Northern Ireland.