§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list those local authorities which have indicated formally that they will not now proceed with previously announced sales of surplus land to private builders; what are the individual sites; and whether he will seek to dissuade local authorities from this course of action;
(2) whether he will list the sites which have been notified to him by local authorities as having been sold, or designed for sale, to private builders as surplus to public sector requirements since the issue of Circular 10/70; and what action he is taking to increase the amount of land to be sold off.
§ Mr. Graham PageAs local authorities are not required to notify me of all sales of their surplus land I am unable to give my hon. Friend the details he seeks. I am aware, however, that most authorities have now reviewed their land holdings and a number of them are disposing of their surplus land to private builders, where this can be done without prejudice to their own essential needs.
The decision whether or not land is surplus to requirements is entirely a matter for the local authority concerned. I have encouraged builders to discuss their difficulties with local authorities so that particular problems may be identified and appropriate solutions found.