§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the total amounts of money spent on the clearance of derelict land in Scotland, Wales and each of the eight English regions served by an economic planning council for the last year for which figures are available; what were the figures for the preceding five years; and what is the estimated figure for the next three years.
§ Mr. OakesThe figures for England for 1973–74 and the five preceding years are set out below. Total expenditure for the current financial year is expected to be about £9 million. As stated by my right hon. Friend in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Llanelli (Mr. Davies) on Friday 31st January—[Vol. 885, c.348.]—the rate of reclamation is to be increased, but he is not yet in a position to give an estimate of the expenditure.
645WI understand from my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales that the figures for Scotland and Wales respectively are as follows:
Scotland
Local authority expenditure for 1973–74 and the previous five years:
Financial Year Local authority expenditure (1) (2) £ million 1968–69 1.1 1969–70 0.8 1970–71 1.0 1971–72 0.9 1972–73 1.1 1973–74 2.0 It is estimated that expenditure in 1974–75 will be of the order of £2.2 million.
Wales
Local authority expenditure for 1974 and the previous five years:
Calendar Year Expenditure (1) (2) £ million 1969 1.6 1970 1.8 1971 2.1 1972 2.5 1973 4.2 1974 2.4 It is estimated that expenditure in 1975 will be of the order of £3.2 million.
Following the recently announced proposals for the establishment of the Scottish
ACREAGE OF DERELICT LAND RESTORED IN ENGLAND 1967–72 Region 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 Northern … 331 704 627 762 1,505 1,788 North-West … 168 288 440 288 515 1,000 Yorkshire and Humberside 230 167 205 856 477 743 West Midlands … 460 493 708 824 1,093 844 East Midlands … 119 116 193 461 555 704 South-West … 101 41 42 129 179 90 South-East … 137 171 242 282 328 107 East Anglia … 93 133 47 43 140 84 Total for England … 1,639 2,113 2,504 3,645 4,792 5,360 I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales that the figures for Scotland and Wales are as follows:
Acreages reclaimed in 1974 and the previous five years
646WDevelopment Agency and the Welsh Development Agency the position is under review and my right hon. Friends are not yet able to estimate the future expenditure on increased programmes of derelict land reclamation under the new arrangements.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total acreage of derelict land that has been reclaimed in Scotland, Wales and the eight English regions served by an economic planning council in the last year for which figures are available; what are the figures for the preceding five years; and what are the estimated figures for the next three years.
§ Mr. OakesThe figures for England for 1972 and five preceding years are set out below. Figures for 1973 and the first quarter of 1974 have been collected as part of the new 1974 survey. Detailed results, including regional figures, are not yet available, but it is estimated that some 6,400 acres were restored during the 15 months period 1st January 1973 to 31st March 1974, representing an annual rate of about 5,100 acres. Progress for the remainder of 1974 and the current year is expected to be of broadly the same order. As explained in the preceding answer, my right hon. Friend is not yet able to estimate the acreages to be reclaimed for the next three years.
647W
Acreage reclaimed Calendar year Scotland Wales (1) (2) (3) 1969 301 802 1970 329 748 1971 732 1,052 1972 414 1,024 1973 622 1,566 1974 1,028 710 It is estimated that about 1,000 acres and 720 acres will be reclaimed in Scotland and Wales respectively in 1975.
For the reason given in the preceding answer my right hon. Friends are unable to forecast the future rate of reclamation progress but look forward to its being increased.