HL Deb 15 December 1975 vol 366 cc1204-7

2.39 p.m.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask her Majesty's Government how many local authorities responsible for preparing land acquisition and management schemes under the Community Land Act 1975 have so far failed to do so to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State, and what percentage of the local authorities involved this figure represents.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)

My Lords, since the date by which Land Acquisition and Management Schemes have to be made is 31st December 1975, and the date for their submission to the Department is 1st February 1976, no authority can, at this stage, be said to have failed to prepare schemes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that reply, may I ask whether she would agree that, as there are only two more weeks until 31st December, including the Chirstmas period, it cannot be said that all authorities have produced their schemes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, the authorities were asked for a progress report by 5th December, and out of 47 county authorities, only six have indicated that they are experiencing any serious difficulty in drawing up their LAMS. I do not think that the noble Baroness has any cause for concern.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, would the noble Baroness say what the cost of this exercise has been, and how much of staff time has been taken away from other local authority projects in order to fulfil this obligation under the Act?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, I cannot believe that the noble Baroness can be serious about this matter. The Act has been passed. Now it is on the Statute Book, everybody, apart from perhaps the noble Baroness, seems anxious to get on with making it work. On the one hand, she has asked whether we have the information—she asked about this continually during the passage of the Bill—and now she asks us about the cost of sending out letters to local authorities, and the cost incurred by the local authorities in replying. In order to make the Act work—the noble Baroness referred to this throughout the passage of the Act—now it is on the Statute Book I should think she should be delighted to know that we have inquired; we have found out what the progress is and we are quite satisfied about it.

The Earl of KINNOULL

My Lords, arising out of that question, could the noble Baroness say whether the Community Land Act can now be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and why it was not available when the Act was passed into law?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, first it had to be printed. I am afraid there were printing difficulties, as is often the case. It has now been published. As the noble Earl is aware, the Act is little different from the Bill as we discussed it during its progress through this House. All the local authorities, and everybody else, are aware of any changes that were made.

Lord HARMAR-NICHOLLS

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the manner of her reply to my noble friend is a little disturbing in the sense that it does not reflect the real concern emanating from local authorities regarding whether or not this can be effective? My noble friend is doing something good at this early stage by putting on record that it is not all sweet and light, which is the impression the noble Baroness gives. It is not a bad thing to have that in mind if this Act is to be carried out as she would wish it.

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, in answer to the speech made by the noble Lord opposite—

A Noble Lord: Question!

Baroness BIRK

—I shall reply to it because I think it is important to do so, although it goes slightly outside the Question of the noble Baroness. Forty-seven authorities were asked about their progress. The vast majority have already made great progress with their schemes and only six have had any serious difficulty in agreeing. This shows that the local authorities have taken this on board and are now busy with their preparations. I consider it to be highly mischievous to give the impression—now that the Act is on the Statute Book—that the vast majority of local authorities, who are trying to make the scheme work, are doubted in this way.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, would not the noble Baroness agree that, as her right honourable friend the Secretary of State has already indicated that local authorities must cut down on expenditure, and has been quoted widely in the Press as saying, "The party is over", it is asking rather a lot of local authorities to bear all this extra expense which they had not expected to incur?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, at this stage, I do not propose to go through this as though we were still arguing about the passage of the Act which is now on the Statute Book.

Lord SLATER

My Lords, would not my noble friend agree that, in view of the questions that have been directed at her in regard to the Question put down by the noble Baroness, it would seem that following the progress of the Bill through both Houses of Parliament, some Members of this House are questioning the intelligence of those people who are responsible for administering the Act?

Baroness BIRK

My Lords, I think that my noble friend is quite right. The less time we spend on discussing how this is to be done and let the local authorities get on with their task—particularly when I have put the facts to the House—the better it will be.