§ 5. Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount of derelict land in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe latest estimate by the Welsh Development Agency is that there are currently around 13,000 hectares of derelict land in Wales.
§ Mr. RowlandsIs the Secretary of State aware that the local authorities have submitted their priority schemes to the Welsh Development Agency and that they amount to more than £100 million? Is he further aware that if we carry on with the reduced budget levels it will take nearly 15 years to deal with those priority schemes? Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the agency does not make land reclamation something of a Cinderella programme?
§ Mr. EdwardsThere is no question of making land reclamation a Cinderella. The Welsh Development Agency has to assess its priorities. Expenditure in the current year, including expenditure on the land reclamation scheme that will probably take place in Cardiff, is likely to be of the order of £10.5 million, which is about the same level as it has been for the past year or two.