§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the unnecessary delays in confirming compulsory purchase orders for slum houses, such as that for Lower Broughton, Salford, which compel people to remain in unsatisfactory housing conditions for longer than necessary, he will take steps, in addition to the recruitment of extra staff, to expedite the processing of compulsory purchase orders.
§ Mr. Freeson:The delays in confirming compulsory purchase orders for Lower Broughton were unavoidable: there has been a threefold increase in CPOs submitted in the North-West over the last three years and the region now accounts for 35 per cent. of orders in England. The increase coincided with a period of restraint on the employment of extra staff and although output in terms of decisions has almost doubled in the past year, a substantial backlog of orders awaiting decisions remains. Nationally, the average decision time is five and a half months for unopposed orders and 11 months for opposed orders. The corres- 880W ponding figures in the North-West are five and a half months and 20 months.
I am aiming to reduce the backlog and improve handling times as quickly as practicable. Extra staff have been allocated to the regional office and some work transferred temporarily to other regions. Any further streamlining of the decision processes would be likely to erode the safeguards which are necessary in the interests of persons affected by orders.