HC Deb 08 May 1991 vol 190 cc712-3
6. Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the next annual report of the London Docklands development corporation.

Mr. Portillo

I look forward to receiving the annual report from London Docklands in July.

Mr. Spearing

Does the Minister agree that the last annual report of the LDDC shows much more concern for the needs of developers than for those of local people? Is he aware that most of the £1.8 billion allocated to rail transport has been used to benefit developers and that the LDDC is not supporting the London borough of Newham's petition for a proper interchange between three new railways at Canning Town? Would it not be a pity if the design defects of underground stations built in the west end at the beginning of the century were replicated in the east end at the end of the century?

Mr. Portillo

I do not want to get drawn into the detail of the station, but the LDDC is a development corporation and it has not supplanted the local authorities, which retain their responsibilities. The LDDC has done a tremendous amount of work with local authorities and other bodies on projects which benefit the community. It has spent about £100 million over the past three years on community projects. It will spend about £87 million over the next three years on community projects and it has made agreements with boroughs such as the London borough of Newham on the construction of houses and a series of projects on education and training which will benefit local people. That is an extremely fine record.

Mr. Summerson

The LDDC has a good record of making use of vacant derelict land. Does my hon. Friend agree that other authorities should follow the example set by the LDDC and use their vacant derelict land, thus reducing the pressure to develop green field sites?

Mr. Portillo

Indeed. The London Docklands development corporation has already reclaimed 600 hectares of derelict land—that sounds like quite a lot to me—and has a remarkable record. I wish that other local authorities would follow the LDDC's lead. We set up that corporation precisely for the purpose of bringing about regeneration and it is succeeding extremely well.