HC Deb 06 December 1965 vol 722 cc16-8W
83. Mr. Arthur Jones

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether local authorities acquiring freehold land under the terms of the proposed Land Commission will be required to dispose of such land on a similar basis if not retained by the local authorities for their own purposes.

Mr. Willey

It will depend on the circumstances in which they acquire the land. If, for example, they acquire land on concessionary crownhold terms for redisposal they may be expected to dispose of it subject to conditions of the kind described in paragraph 24 of the White price or the initial value described in Paper. In other cases they may dispose of a freehold or a leasehold as seems appropriate.

85. Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, if he will specify the kinds of transaction which will be liable for a levy under the proposals in Command Paper No. 2771, and which would not otherwise be taxed under the existing fiscal system either as trading profit or as capital gain.

Mr. Willey

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Bill.

86. Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, with reference to Command Paper No. 2771, what criteria he will use to establish the date on which development of land takes place and the levy becomes payable.

Mr. Willey

The criteria used will relate to physical operations on the land but I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Bill for details.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether under his proposals contained in Command Paper No. 2771 those who trade as dealers in land will be liable for the levy.

Mr. Willey

Yes.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will give an assurance that no levy will be payable by an owner of land at the time he receives planning consent for material development but only when the actual development takes place.

Mr. Willey

Levy will be payable not when planning consent is received but when development takes place or when development value is realised on a disposal of the land.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what will be the base value for the purposes of calculating the charge to levy where the land was purchased before 22nd September, planning permission has been obtained since that date, but development is not started until after the appointed day.

Mr. Willey

Base value in these circumstances will be either the purchase price or the initial value describned in paragraph 27 of the White paragraph 27 of the White Paper, whichever is the higher.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what procedure he proposes to adopt in determing cases where there is disagreement between the proposed Land Commission and the local planning authority about use of the Commission's powers of compulsory purchase.

Mr. Willey

The Commission's powers of compulsory purchase will not operate until an appropriate planning decision has been made. If there is disagreement on the planning issues between the Commission and the local authority it will be open to the Commission to appeal to the appropriate planning Minister.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what salaries will be paid to the Chairman and other members of the proposed Land Commission; and what will be the duration of their appointments.

Mr. Willey

Proposals for the salaries of the Chairman and members will be presented in an Estimate for the Land Commision in due course and provisions about appointments to the Commission will be included in the Land Commission Bill.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will itemise the powers of compulsory purchase which the Land Commission will possess, under the proposals contained in Command Paper No. 2771, that are additional to those already possessed by local planning authorities.

Mr. Willey

Both local planning authorities and the Commission will have powers to buy land compulsorily to secure its development. Those of local authorities depend, in the absence of specific powers, on prior amendment of the development plan to designate the land for compulsory purchase. The Land Commission, however, will be able to exercise its powers whenever, as a result of a planning decision of any kind, a designation order for a new town or a clearance order under the Housing Act, it is clear that the land may be developed.