HC Deb 13 June 1984 vol 61 cc896-7
2. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to discuss developments in London docklands with the chairman of the London Docklands Development Corporation.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Sir George Young)

I am due to meet the next chairman and other members of LDDC's board on 29 June.

Mr. Spearing

When the Minister meets Mr. Benson and his colleagues, will he draw their attention to two matters that are causing considerable concern in my constituency and, indeed, in the docklands as a whole? The first is the alleged list of 70 sites which the LDDC wishes to acquire, including publicly owned sites and public open space, without apparent consultation with the public bodies concerned? Secondly, is the hon. Gentleman aware that, due to industrial location requests and doubts that have not been allayed by answers to recent written questions, some small local industrial firms are being prejudiced by the lack of interest shown by the LDDC, which is contrary to the reason why it was established?

Sir George Young

I shall be happy to discuss both those matters with Mr. Benson when I meet him later this month. With regard to the first matter, the amount of land that the LDDC wishes to acquire is a matter for it, taking into account the need to balance expenditure on land purchase and expenditure on carrying out works. I have looked into the second matter as a result of the hon. Gentleman's questions. The corporation has acted with considerable sensitivity in relocating existing businesses in the docklands. It has successfully managed the relocation of 59 tenant businesses, thus preserving about 550 associated jobs. I shall raise the matter further, but I believe that the LDDC has done well.

Mr. Simon Hughes

Will the Under-Secretary also raise housing in this context? I welcome the considerable number of houses being built for sale, at a moderately low cost, in the docks, but there is a considerable demand for even cheaper housing for people who at the moment are local authority tenants, particularly people in north Southwark. Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to make sure that the price of the housing reflects the ability of people in the dockland boroughs to pay if they are to stay there as opposed to being forced to move out?

Sir George Young

I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman has recognised the valuable work that the corporation has done in housing. Over 1,000 homes have been completed on LDDC sites, and work is under way on another 2,000. The level of owner occupation in the area has doubled from 5 per cent. in 1981 to over 10 per cent. today. Much of the development is aimed in the first place at local residents. I know that the LDDC is anxious to make sure that a proportion of the schemes that it encourages are within the means of Southwark residents and residents north of the borough. I am happy to discuss the matter further with the corporation.