§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the sum allocated for loan sanctions in England under the Community Land Act 1975 for the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what proportion of the allocation was actually taken up by local authorities.
§ Mr. Freeson£25 million and £26 million respectively. About two-thirds of the allocation was taken up in 1976–77. The figure for 1977–78 is not yet available.
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total area of land acquired by authorities in the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what proportion of that total area in each year was acquired, respectively, for industrial, commercial or housing use;
(2) how much land acquired under the Community Land Act has been disposed of in the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78;
(3) what proportion of the total area of land acquired under the Community Land Act was within town or city boundaries in existence at the time of acquisition.
§ Mr. FreesonFigures of total local authority land acquisitions are not readily available.
In 1976–77 authorities in England acquired nearly 1,600 acres under the community land scheme, of which 850 acres were for private housing, 740 acres for industry and the balance for commercial uses. Just over half the land was in urban areas. Thirty-three acres were disposed of in the year.
Figures for 1977–78 are not yet available.
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many county areas there are arrangements for joint community land accounts in operation.
§ Mr. FreesonOnly in West Sussex and the Isle of Wight. But in a number of other counties the authorities join together to co-ordinate their land scheme activities.