§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken and proposes to take to ensure that local authorities and other public authorities dispose of surplus land as speedily as possible.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy right hon. Friend has published registers of unused and underused public land of an acre or more in size under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, which also gives power to direct the disposal of such land. Owners of registered sites which appear to be retained without good reason are asked to explain their intentions.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of unused and underused sites of more than one acre owned (a) by each local authority in England, and (b) other public bodies in England.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy right hon. Friend has already published under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 a register for each English district and London borough of unused and underused sites of an acre or more in public ownership. Copies of the registers are available for inspection at the offices of these authorities, in the regional offices of the Department and in the Department's library.