HC Deb 26 April 1972 vol 835 cc301-2W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is aware of the fact that property speculators from the countries of the Six, particularly from France and Germany, are purchasing land, farms and property in Great Britain on a speculative basis; and, as this is adversely affecting British house-building, if he will seek powers to prevent this;

(2) to what extent under the present rules and regulations of the European Economic Community on Great Britain's entry into the Community he could take action to stop speculative land purchases by individuals from the other member countries without reference to the European Economic Community.

Mr. Graham Page

There is nothing in the present rules and regulations of the European Economic Community which would limit the freedom of my right hon. Friend to take action about land speculation in general if he thought it desirable. There is no evidence that there are speculative transactions by Frenchmen and Germans buying land in Great Britain which adversely affects British house building.