HC Deb 31 March 1971 vol 814 cc360-2W
44. Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost per acre of building land in the central area of London; and what special help he will consider giving to local authorities who need to provide housing at moderate rents in the centre of London.

Mr. Amery

Costs vary so widely that no average figure means much. The reform of housing finance will put central London authorities in a better position to solve their housing problems.

46. Mr. Douglas-Mann

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities in housing stress areas acquire land that is available for development to enable them to accelerate their housing programmes.

Mr. Amery

My Department has regular discussions with these authorities to see how enough land can be acquired to maintain a programme of new houses which will meet their needs.

75. Mr. Leonard

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of land are now held by the London Borough of Havering Council for future housing development; and how much land the council now proposes to acquire to satisfy the requirements of his Department's Circular 10/70 of 22nd July, 1970.

Mr. Channon

The assembly of land for housing purposes is primarily a matter for the local authority, and the hon. Member should approach the Havering London Borough Council direct for this information.

25. Mr. Russell Kerr

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will convene a meeting of inner and outer London borough councils with the object of securing greater availability of land so as to enable an increase to take place in municipal developments and thus ease the problems of stress areas within the Greater London area.

Mr. Amery

I have arranged to meet representatives of London Boroughs containing areas of housing stress on 2nd April, to discuss some of the problems which arise in these areas.

I hope that this conference as well as the further conference which I have just announced in my reply to the right hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Gordon Walker) will lead to positive action not least in making more land available for housing.