§ Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the difficulties confronting local authorities in areas which suffered severe bombing and which still have many bombed sites where refuse and rubbish accumulate, thereby causing disease and danger to nearby inhabitants and children; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to fence in these sites and charge the costs to the landowners or to claim reimbursement for looking after these sites by making them vacant areas.
§ Mr. CorfieldMy right hon. Friend does not think further legislation is needed. Local authorities already have wide powers under the War Damaged Sites Act, 1949,the Highways Act, 1959, the Public Health Act, 1961, and the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, to deal with bombed sites which are dangerous or unsightly. Under some of these powers the cost of the remedial works falls on the landowner.