HC Deb 23 May 1972 vol 837 cc353-4W
Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will take steps to grant annual sums to the nationalised industries to be devoted towards the restoration of land made derelict by their operations on the cessation of their operations;

(2) if he is satisfied with the steps being taken by nationalised industries to avoid making land derelict and to restore existing derelict land once it becomes surplus to their requirements; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Graham Page

Generous grants are available to local authorities towards the cost of acquisition of derelict land, and then reclamation whoever the original owner may be. There is no reason why the acquisition procedure should not be applied to land belonging to nationalised industries in respect of which no requirements for restoration had been imposed under the Town and Country Planning Acts.