§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the consequences for his housing policy that may flow from the recent decision of the Court of Appeal which restricts the operation of compulsory purchase procedures.
§ Mr. FreesonThe judgment delivered on 11th November in Victoria Square Property Co. Ltd. v. Southwark London Borough Council arose mainly as the result of an apparent procedural mishap at an earlier hearing. The Department has no evidence that other local authorities have been using the powers332W in Section 17(2) of the Housing Act 1957 to acquire houses intended for permanent retention, and the judgment should have no significant effect on housing policy.