HC Deb 19 May 1998 vol 312 cc303-4W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 1998,Official

Data collection will start in the summer. English Partnerships intends to publish information on an initial set of sites suitable for redevelopment by the end of the year; summary results for all sites should be available by March 1999. Meanwhile, local authorities will have consistent information on the amounts of previously developed land which may be available for housing to assist in the drawing up of national and regional targets for the reuse of land.

The database will also have value for other organisations. For example, officials are discussing with Urban Mines, an environmental NGO, which launches its own "Brownfield Sites" project today, to ensure the two projects are complementary. The intention is to secure agreements to make the information more widely available, including appropriate charging for commercial use.

We shall be discussing this work as it progresses with the Urban Task Force.